Oakland, CA - With great sadness, Mills College announces the death of Tanya Neiman, alumna (Class of 1970) on February 27, 2006, following a long battle with ovarian cancer. Neiman was a well-known figure in the San Francisco legal community who worked vigorously to improve access to justice for members of low-income communities.

During her tenure as director of the Volunteer Legal Services Program for nearly 25 years, Neiman pioneered in areas such as pro bono services, holistic legal services, and community law.

Following her graduation from Mills, she earned her law degree from Hastings College of Law, University of California at San Francisco (1974). Neiman began her legal career by teaching at Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley, and then joined the State Public Defender’s Office shortly after its initiation by then-Governor Jerry Brown.

Neiman was recently recognized by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area with its Robert G. Sproul Award. The Award honors her lifetime achievement on behalf of civil rights and outstanding support of pro bono services. In 2005, the ACLU of Northern California awarded Neiman its On the Frontline Award honoring her work to protect the rights of lesbians, gay men, and bisexual and transgender people, as well as people with HIV and AIDS.

She is survived by her loving partner of 24 years, Brett Mangels; her devoted brother Harry Neiman; her niece Morgan Neiman; her dearest friend, Marni Shapiro; her adoring goddaughter, Megan Martenyi; and her community of friends, colleagues and family.

The memorial service will take place on May 3 at 4 pm at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, followed by a reception in the Masonic Auditorium.

Contributions in her name can be made to the Tanya Neiman Social Justice and Poverty Law Fund c/o San Francisco Foundation, 225 Bush Street, #500, San Francisco, CA 94104.

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 20 most diverse liberal arts colleges. The Princeton Review selected Mills as one of 11 colleges for first-time inclusion in its Best 361 Colleges in 2005. 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

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