The position of director of Spiritual and Religious Life (SRL) at Mills may soon be filled after two years of being vacant.
Three potential reverends are being hosted at Mills over the next few weeks with meet and greets among the Mills community. The first meet and greet session occurred on Feb. 22, beginning with candidate Reverend Dara Olandt. Assistant Dean of Students Sabrina Kwist introduced Olandt to a small audience in the Lokey Graduate School of Business. Kwist said Olandt is trained in interfaith community organizing and in pastoral presence in times of both joy and sorrow.
Olandt is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister who has spent the past several years in Virginia, but spent seventeen years in the Bay Area. Here, she told the audience that she continues to be inspired by Mills’ focus on social justice issues and that she is motivated to work on this social justice mission with students if she is chosen for the position.
“I believe it is very important that the next generations of leaders meet the challenges of the 21st century with creativity, social responsibility and an eye toward social justice,” Olandt said.
Getting to know students is also important to Oldant. If chosen for the position, she assured the audience she will do her best to meet the needs of each student that comes to her.
“I [want to] build trust through shared experiences,” Olandt said. “I don’t believe there is a one size fits all approach to spiritual growth and development.”
The next candidates, Michelle Mueller and Karen Nelson Villanueva, will have Q&A sessions on March 3 and 4, respectively.
Look out for more updates on the position of the Mills Director of SRL from The Campanil.
