Oakland, CA

Executive Director, Mills Institute, Mills College

The Organization

Located in Oakland, California, in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, Mills College is a liberal arts college for women and gender non-binary students, with graduate programs for all genders. Consistently ranked one of the top master’s universities and one of the best value colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report, Mills also has been named one of the Best Colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review.

The Mills experience is distinguished by small, interactive classes, one-on-one attention from exceptional faculty, a culture of creative experimentation, and cutting-edge interdisciplinary learning opportunities which empower students to make a statement in their careers and communities. As one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, Mills has a strong record of academic success with first-generation students, students of color, Latinx students, LGBTQ students, and other underrepresented students. In 2017, Mills College became a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Position Overview

Executive Director, Mills Institute

Draft 3.29.2022

Mills College at Northeastern seeks applications and nominations for the inaugural Executive Director of the Mills Institute.

Located in Oakland, California, in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, Mills College is a liberal arts college for women and gender non-binary students, with graduate programs for all genders. Consistently ranked one of the top master’s universities and one of the best value colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report, Mills also has been named one of the Best Colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review.

The Mills experience is distinguished by small, interactive classes, one-on-one attention from exceptional faculty, a culture of creative experimentation, and cutting-edge interdisciplinary learning opportunities which empower students to make a statement in their careers and communities. As one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, Mills has a strong record of academic success with first-generation students, students of color, Latinx students, LGBTQ students, and other underrepresented students. In 2017, Mills College became a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Beginning in July 2022, Mills College and Northeastern University are merging to create a bicoastal university powered by Northeastern’s global experiential learning and research and strengthened by Mills’ legacy in women’s leadership, equity, and social justice.

At this pivotal moment for both institutions, the Mills Institute has been purposefully created to preserve and further the legacy and mission of Mills College, which “…educates students to think critically and communicate responsibly and effectively, to accept the challenges of their creative visions, and to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to effect thoughtful changes in a global, multicultural society.” The Institute will also double down on the deep commitments both Mills and Northeastern share with respect to equity, inclusion, and antiracism, providing programs and partnerships that support transformative teaching and learning, research, and career development for women, gender non-binary individuals, and historically marginalized racial and ethnic communities.

The Executive Director will be the executive and educational head of the Institute, reporting to the president of Mills College at Northeastern. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, forward-thinking leader to build and develop a new institute that will join the ranks of the many prominent institutes of Northeastern University while sustaining the values and rich history of Mills College. This inaugural Executive Director will develop a compelling strategic plan for the Institute, raise funds and steward its resources, build relationships locally and nationally on its behalf, cultivate opportunities for the Institute in accordance with its mission, and champion the Institute’s pedagogical, intellectual, and creative excellence.

To fulfill these aspirations, the Search Committee seeks to appoint a creative, thoughtful, and entrepreneurial individual with a record of effective leadership and scholarly achievement, a passion for liberal arts education, appreciation of the value of women’s education, and a global and strategic perspective. The incoming Executive Director must demonstrate deep empathy, curiosity, and character and possess a record of working directly with communities that have been historically underrepresented and marginalized. Additionally, the incoming Executive Director of the Mills Institute should possess a PhD or appropriate terminal degree and either a strong scholarly or strong public service/foundations profile, ideally both.

Persons wishing to be considered for this exciting position should submit a curriculum vita. While a letter expressing interest is not required, the committee welcomes such letters, particularly those that highlight past accomplishments. Nominations and referrals are also strongly encouraged. All submissions should be sent in confidence by email as soon as possible to:

Susan VanGilder, Managing Partner

Julia Patton, Senior Associate

Storbeck Search

MillsInstituteExecutiveDirector22@storbecksearch.com

Mills College encourages diversity in hiring and particularly welcomes applications and nominations from women, gender non-binary individuals, and minorities. Mills College seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice and our desire to maintain the excellence of our faculty. In so doing, we offer our students not only the opportunity to learn about varied disciplines but to engage with diverse perspectives and ways of knowing and learning. For more information, please visit www.mills.edu.

How To Apply

Persons wishing to be considered for this exciting position should submit a curriculum vita. While a letter expressing interest is not required, the committee welcomes such letters, particularly those that highlight past accomplishments. Nominations and referrals are also strongly encouraged. All submissions should be sent in confidence by email as soon as possible to:

Susan VanGilder, Managing Partner

Julia Patton, Senior Associate

Storbeck Search

MillsInstituteExecutiveDirector22@storbecksearch.com

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