Commencement

Congratulations to the Class of 2013! 

The 125th Commencement at Mills College will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2013. With this ceremony the College recognizes the achievements of its students and confers upon them the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a Mills degree. The dignity and customs of this historic ceremony are rooted in medieval times, when colleges and universities developed methods and standards for marking progress in knowledge and professionalism.

In keeping with this tradition, the Mills Commencement ceremony will begin on Holmgren Meadow promptly at 9:45 am and end at approximately 12:00 pm, with an academic procession of Mills graduating students, alumnae/i, faculty, Trustees, the President's Cabinet, and honored guests. The program will include remarks by President Alecia A. DeCoudreaux, the Commencement address, student speakers, and the conferring of degrees.

The traditional strawberry and champagne reception for graduating students, alumnae/i, faculty, and guests, held on the Art Museum Meadow, will follow the Commencement ceremony.

Commencement Speaker

Mills College will mark its 125th Commencement with an address given by Holly Gordon. Gordon, an award-winning television and film producer, is the executive director of 10x10—a global social action campaign to educate girls in developing nations.

After many years producing ABC News programs such as World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Good Morning America, 20/20, and Primetime, Gordon is now the executive producer of the groundbreaking documentary Girl Rising. Combining the power of the media with film production, Girl Rising, which premiered this spring, delivers the powerful message that "one girl with courage is a revolution."

When Gordon came across the powerful story that educating girls can change the world, she quickly realized that she not only had the ability—but the responsibility—to do even more for the cause of girls. She co-founded the 10x10 campaign, which uses the power of storytelling to educate girls and change the world. Contributions to the 10x10 Fund For Girls' Education are distributed among 10x10's high-impact network of nonprofit partners: A New Day Cambodia, CARE USA, Partners in Health, Plan International USA, Room to Read, United Nations Foundation/Girl Up, and World Vision.

Gordon has been recognized by Newsweek/The Daily Beast as a Woman of Impact for her work on 10x10 and Girl Rising. While overwhelming evidence shows that around the world girls face barriers to education that boys do not, the film illustrates how educated girls can become strong, productive, enlightened, and contributing members of society. That evidence and the driving message behind Girl Rising speak to the mission of Mills College where, for 161 years, generations of graduates have positively impacted their communities, their countries, and social justice efforts around the globe.

General Information

Each year, the Commencement organizing committee, acting in an advisory capacity to the President, plans this academic ceremony to maintain the traditions of the College and ensure that everything runs smoothly at this most important event of the College year.

The purpose of these web pages is to guide you through the steps needed in order to be prepared for this exciting and memorable occasion. Please read through these pages carefully to ensure that you have fulfilled all requirements so you can obtain your diploma and, if desired, participate in the Commencement ceremony. These pages are updated frequently, so please check back as needed.

NOTE: Comments or questions regarding Commencement may be addressed to Linda Northcott unless you previously have been directed to another Mills contact.

Linda Northcott, Director of College Events
Mills College Events Office, Sage Hall 124
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
510.430.2100
lln@mills.edu