Janet L. Holmgren
On the frontlines of higher education for 25 years, Janet L. Holmgren was
appointed President of Mills College (Oakland, CA) in 1991. She came to Mills
as one of the highest-ranking female administrators at Princeton University
where she was vice provost from 1988 to 1991. Instrumental in shaping the
national agenda for women and higher education through her leadership roles with
Mills and prominent boards, President Holmgren is currently chair of the
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. She also serves as chair
of the executive committee of the Women’s College
Coalition.
College Milestones During Holmgren
Administration:
- Major diversity initiatives created, resulting in increased appointments for
faculty of color, enhanced curriculum reflecting multiculturalism, and
college-wide diversity training;
- Urban school reform advanced in Oakland through the Oakland Education
Cabinet, a five-year NSF grant program to improve science instruction in
Oakland, and extensive work with local government and school officials;
- Endowment enhanced ($70 to $175 million) through fundraising and sound
management of investments;
- $8 million Education Center completed for pre-school to doctoral
programs;
- Graduate programs improved and expanded, including creation of Mills’
first doctoral degree program in urban educational leadership;
- Mills’ Women’s Leadership Institute and its Center for Visiting
Women Scholars established;
- Mills’ Institute for Civic Leadership initiated;
- $50 million of campus renovations and improvements completed, including $10
million renovation of historic Mills Hall;
- Editorials published regularly in the San Francisco Chronicle on
higher education, school reform, college rankings, women voters and other major
issues.
Professional Experience:
President
and Susan Mills Professor, Mills College, 1991-present
Vice Provost,
Princeton University, 1988-91
Senior Administrator, University of Maryland
(College Park), 1982-1988
Full-time Faculty Member, University of Maryland
and Federal City College, 1972-1982
Education:
Ph.D. in
Linguistics, Princeton University, 1974
M.A. in Linguistics, Princeton
University, 1971
B.A. in English, summa cum laude, Oakland University
(Rochester, MI), 1968
Professional Service:
- Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching – Chair, Board of
Directors
- Women’s College Coalition – Executive Board Member and
Chair
- American Council on Education – Board of Directors, Past Chair
- East Bay Community Foundation – Board of Directors
- National Council for Research on Women – Board of Directors
- Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities –
Executive Committee, Past Chair
- Oakland Education Cabinet – Member, Past Chair
- California Academy of Science – Member of Advisory Council
- Governance Working Group of the Joint Committee to Develop a Master Plan for
Education, Kindergarten through University, State of California – Past
Chair
Awards and Recognition:
- Donna Shavlik Leadership Award for Lifetime Service, Office of Women in
Higher Education, American Council on Education, 2001
- Hinsdale High School (Illinois) Hall of Fame, 1998
- Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, Oakland University, 1996
- Honorary degree, Golden Gate University, 1995
- Honorary degree, Mount Vernon College, Washington, DC, 1992
- Outstanding Woman Administrator, University of Maryland,
1988
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