Oakland, CA—October 2, 2020
Each year, Mills College marks the beginning of a new academic year with Convocation, where students, alumnae/i, faculty, and friends of the College gather to celebrate the graduating class and recognize the accomplishments of faculty and students.
Convocation 2020, however, was unlike any other: It was the College’s first-ever fully virtual, crowd-sourced Convocation, with attendees Zooming in from across the country. This co-created Convocation features video submissions from students on the themes of coronavirus, climate change, and Black futurism. Produced distantly and digitally in a live broadcast, this year’s event provided students with a forum to inspire the Mills community with their testimony, talent, and vision for a radically alternative future.
Introduction, Mills President Elizabeth L. Hillman (0:00–1:38)
Opening Blessing, Hiwa and Napua Greig (1:39–4:54)
Opening Remarks, President Hillman (4:55–8:45)
Welcome, Katie Sanborn ’83, Chair of the Mills College Board of Trustees (8:46–11:42)
Remarks from Viji Nakka-Cammauf, MA ’82, President of the Alumnae Association of Mills College (11:43–17:14)
"This is not a poem," a poetry reading by Reilly Hearst ’21 (17:15–20:50)
Undergraduate Student Address, Dylyn Turner-Keener ’21, President of the Associated Students of Mills College (20:51–27:27)
Graduate Student Address, Sophie Stauffer ’21 (27:28–30:50)