A Requiem
The news that Oaklandâs Mills College will soon close after 170 years of providing a distinctive educational experience for women came as shocking, yet not altogether surprising, news. Founded in 1852 as the Young Ladiesâ Seminary in Benicia, Susan and Cyrus Mills, âChampions for equal education for women,â bought the seminary in 1865, renamed it Mills College, and moved the campus to Oakland six years later.
In 1990, Mills attracted national attention when another financial crisis led to a board of trusteeâs decision to admit men, which ignited fierce opposition among students, alumnae, and others who recognize that womenâs colleges continue to play a critical role in higher education.