To all members of the Mills and Northeastern community:

In September, Northeastern University and Mills College reached a historic agreement to merge our institutions and create something truly unique in higher education. Today, June 30, our partnership has been realized with the official establishment of Mills College at Northeastern University. This marks a transformational step forward for our global community, our university, and our mission to advance and uplift society.

The merger secures Mills’ future as part of an innovative educational institution, establishes the Mills Institute, and ensures that Mills’ 170-year legacy and commitment to social justice, gender equity, and women’s leadership will endure for generations to come.

We will begin this shared work by creating innovative undergraduate and graduate degree programs and lifelong learning opportunities. The programs will leverage the strengths of both institutions to prepare students to lead lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Together, we’ll create a future that honors Mills’ values and ensures that the experiences of our students are rich in learning, discovery, and impact.

As a flagship in our global university system, Mills College at Northeastern will empower new generations through personalized, experiential learning and use-inspired discovery. We are delighted to announce that this fall more than 500 Northeastern undergraduates will join hundreds of continuing Mills students in Oakland to embark together on an educational journey.

An enduring, focal point for this transformative impact will be the Mills Institute. Building on the legacy of Mills College, the Mills Institute will drive world-class thought leadership and innovative educational approaches at the intersection of gender and racial justice, technology, and globalization.

We want to thank all of you for the tremendous effort and commitment that you have already made to this transition, and for your dedication to the work ahead to build our new future together.

This is an important milestone for our university and for higher education more broadly. This new partnership will allow us to build the only university in the United States with comprehensive campuses on both coasts—campuses that include undergraduate and graduate learning, residential life, recreation, and research.

Let us continue forward as one community dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, inclusivity, and innovation in service of all humanity.

Sincerely,

Joseph E. Aoun
President, Northeastern University

Elizabeth L. Hillman,
President, Mills College at Northeastern University