Mills College Names Elizabeth Hillman as Its Next President

The board of trustees of Mills College, the liberal arts educational institution for women in Oakland, California, has named Elizabeth L. Hillman as the college’s 14th president. She will take office on July 1.

Professor Hillman currently serves as provost, academic dean, and professor of law at the University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. Previously, she served as professor of law and director of faculty development at the Rutgers University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey. Her research focuses on legal issues involving women in the military.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Hillman is a graduate of Duke University, where she majored in electrical engineering. She holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree and a Ph.D. in women’s history from Yale University.

In accepting the appointment as president of Mills College, Dr. Hillman said “it’s an incredible honor to be chosen as the next president of Mills. I am humbled by the trustees’ confidence and look forward to working with them, my colleagues on the faculty, and Mills’ staff, alumnae, and students to imagine and build the college’s future. I want to throw a spotlight on the academic excellence and professional success of those whose lives were changed by their experience at Mills. I’ve been so impressed by Mills’ success in cultivating creativity, leadership, and social responsibility in its diverse students. I feel especially fortunate to be joining Mills at a time when the global, and local, demand for education throughout women’s lives shows no signs of abating.”

A video of Professor Hillman discussing her new role can be viewed here.