A pledge of $10 million, the largest single donation in Mills’
history from a living donor, has been given to Mills to create a
graduate business school.
President Janet Holmgren, in a memo to the Mills community,
said, “This gift will do much to put Mills on the map for
leadership and excellence in women’s education.”
Lorry I. Lokey, founder and CEO of Business Wire in San
Francisco, said, “Mills is ready to further advance educational
opportunities that will enable women to burst through the glass
ceiling.”
The money will allow Mills to establish the Lokey School of
Business, and expand the current curriculum, faculty and financial
aid for the 4+1 BA/MBA program to the enrollment goal of 100
students within five years, according to director Nancy
Thornborrow. The program allows students in economics to earn both
their undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years.
“Mills is building exemplary professional programs within the
liberal arts,” said Holmgren, “to become a national center for
women to develop the leadership capacity to transform society.”
“This fantastic gift shows how important Mills is – it’s a Bay
Area treasure,” said Warren Hellman, who was chairman of the Board
of Trustees when they voted to make Mills co-ed. “This is another
step under President Holmgren’s leadership that demonstrates Mills
is among the country’s top liberal arts institutions.”
Lokey has previously donated funds totaling $3 million, which
Holmgren said has been used to support the Education complex and
new Vera Long Social Science Center. He was honored in 2003 by the
Association for Women in Communications.
Lokey’s pledge brings the College’s Sesquicentennial Campaign
total to $98 million, putting Mills in position to surpass its goal
of $100 million by December.
