Oakland, CA–April 27, 2009. Janet L. Holmgren, Mills College President, has been named among the "Bay Area's Most Influential Women in Business" by the San Francisco Business Times. She was featured in the April 24–30, 2009 issue.

The San Francisco Business Times has presented this annual recognition for more than a decade, honoring the most dynamic and accomplished women in business, including those leading nonprofit or public agencies. Holmgren is honored with 150 other women.

In the forefront of higher education for more than 30 years, Holmgren was appointed President of Mills College 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. Through her leadership at Mills and advocacy and service on national boards, Holmgren has been instrumental in shaping the country's agenda for women and higher education.

Her vision has advanced Mills into a preeminent 21st-century liberal arts educational institution with a steadfast commitment to educating women and underrepresented populations. The College enjoys national and international recognition for academic excellence, while achieving unprecedented student enrollment and endowment gains.

Holmgren said that "leading a great college and believing passionately in our mission and work" enables her to be influential. She also emphasizes the importance of "great colleagues and a strong vision of a strategic model for coupling business, education, and social change."

She currently serves on the Boards of Princeton University, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and the National Council for Research on Women.

Holmgren has an MA and a PhD in linguistics from Princeton University (1971 and 1974, respectively) and holds the title of Susan Mills Professor for presidents who teach.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California, Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering a dynamic progressive education that fosters leadership, social responsibility, and creativity to approximately 950 undergraduate women and 500 graduate women and men. Since 2000, applications to Mills College have more than doubled. The College is named one of the top colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report, one of the Best 368 Colleges by the Princeton Review, and ranks 75th among America's best colleges by Forbes.com. Visit us at www.mills.edu.

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