Oakland, CA - Mills College announced today a new endowed professorship in business education funded by Mills trustee Glenn Voyles and his wife Ellen.  Mr. Voyles has served on the Mills Board of Trustees since 1996, and is a founding donor of the College’s highly respected four plus one BA/MBA program.

The Glenn and Ellen Voyles Professorship in Business Education continues the exceptional support Mills has received for a new Graduate Business School – the only school in the West designed to prepare women for leadership and entrepreneurial success.  The Voyles Professorship will honor excellence in business education by supporting a faculty position of significant leadership.

“Glenn provides Mills visionary leadership as a trustee and donor who understands the critical need for preparing women to lead in the business sector,” said Janet L. Holmgren, Mills President.  “The Voyles’ extremely generous gift of an endowed chair will help the College build a preeminent graduate business school to enhance women’s professional achievement in the workplace.”

“We are proud to be a part of the Mills tradition of preparing women to be leaders in this country and throughout the world,” said Voyles.  “While leadership is critical to government, education and the sciences as well as to business, we have chosen to support the education of women in the business sector, an area underemphasized by many other fine educational institutions.”

The Business School is part of the College’s long-term strategic plan to expand leadership opportunities for women with graduate programs responding to their academic and professional needs. Women are dramatically underrepresented in MBA programs nationwide, with only one third of students who are women, compared to more than 50 percent in medicine and law.

Voyles co-chaired Mills’ successful Sesquicentennial Campaign (completed December 31, 2004) that raised $130 million - $30 million over goal - for academic programs, student scholarships and financial aid, facilities, and technology.

He co-founded Jurika & Voyles, an Oakland based investment management firm, in 1983 and served as its chairman until the firm was merged into Loomis Sayles in 2003. He earned a BA and an MBA from Stanford University.

Mills’ four plus one BA/MBA allows undergraduates majoring in economics to earn both degrees in five years, streamlining their career opportunities.  For further information about the Mills BA/MBA, call the Admissions Office at 1-800-87MILLS, email mba@mills.edu or visit the website at www.mills.edu.

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently ranked among the top 75 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills is also recognized as one of the country’s 15 most diverse colleges. Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility and creativity.

PRESS CONTACT:
Deborah Dallinger
Communications Consultant
(925) 788-9131