Convocation

Friday, September 19, 2008
Toyon Meadow
10:15 am

Convocation, a centuries-old academic tradition in colleges and universities around the world, is a ceremonial calling-together of professors, students, and other members of an academic community.
At Mills, Convocation formally marks the beginning of the academic year, honors the academic achievements of select students and faculty who are receiving special awards, recognizes students in the graduating class, and welcomes new students to campus. It also is an occasion to celebrate Mills’ alumnae and to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding organizations and leaders in the surrounding community.

The Convocation celebration begins with graduating seniors and faculty donning academic regalia, gathering for a breakfast reception, and proceeding to the ceremony. First-year students, sophomores, and juniors join their respective classes wearing their class color. Each class is assigned one of four colors based on the year of graduation. The Class of 2009 is red; the Class of 2010 is green; the Class of 2011 is blue and the Class of 2012 is purple. The outgoing class shares their color with the incoming class, so the tradition continues every year.

Convocation will be held on Friday, September 19, 2008, at 10:15 am on Toyon Meadow, located behind Mills Hall. The Convocation speaker will be renowned choreographer and Mills alumna Trisha Brown '58. Brown is widely acclaimed as the grande dame of postmodern dance, known for her maverick spirit and ability to push the human body to perform in unexpected ways. Unafraid to challenge new genres, she has choreographed opera, jazz, classical music, and ballet.

After graduating from Mills in 1958, Brown trained as a dancer and became a founding member of the avant-garde Judson Dance Theatre in New York. In 1970, she formed the Trisha Brown Dance Company, considered one of the leading contemporary dance ensembles in the world. She has won numerous awards in addition to the MacArthur Fellowhsip, including two Guggenheim Fellowships, the National Medal of Arts, and Commandeur dans L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the government of France.