Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee, an alumna from Mills College, and Delaine Eastin, distinguished visiting professor of educational leadership, will co-teach a course on public policy at Mills this spring.

Entitled “Real Policy, Real Politics,” the course is designed to introduce Mills students to the intersection of electoral politics and policy making. Topics will include the process of political engagement and campaigning, political analysis, and procedures for effective policy research and presentation. A wide range of contemporary policy issues will be examined in the course.

Students will meet Saturdays from January 20, 2007 through March 10, 2007 from 1 pm–3:30 pm. The first part of each class will feature lectures by Congresswoman Lee and Delaine Eastin, and the second will include discussions of issues with student-led presentations.

Congresswoman Lee graduated from Mills in 1973, and has described her Mills education as instrumental in launching her successful political career. The College recently established the endowed Barbara Lee Distinguished Chair in Women’s Leadership in honor of her outstanding leadership on behalf of human rights and social justice.

Delaine Eastin is the former State Superintendent of Public Instruction and a highly respected leader on behalf of statewide school reform. During her tenure as State Superintendent, she authored and shaped legislation to reform California’s public schools, including bills to create charter schools, promote parental involvement, enhance school safety, and increase school district financial accountability.

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently recognized as one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills currently ranks among the top 20 most diverse liberal arts colleges. The New York Times recently selected Mills as one of three leading California colleges for students to consider.

This year, the Washington Monthly College Rankings (September 2006) named Mills a leading liberal arts college based on community service, research spending, quality of preparation for graduate education, and social mobility. In addition, The Princeton Review’s annual guide, the Best 361 Colleges (2007) included Mills for the second year in a row among top U.S. institutions offering students an outstanding undergraduate education.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity.

PRESS CONTACT:
Deborah Dallinger
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925.788.9131