“I am not sure if I'm much different. Perhaps more
patient.”
“I am not sure if I'm much different. Perhaps more patient.” This is how outgoing Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Multicultural Education Mable Millner summarizes her learnings in her more than three decades of professional work in higher education. Other than her stint at Mount Saint James, Millner - who officially retires from the college on January 20 – also worked for ten years as academic adviser and adult education program officer at the Office of Community Education Program at the University of Pittsburg and another 10 years as director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Admissions at Boston University. Having received her sociology and child development education degrees from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and her graduate degree from the University of Pittsburg, Millner also for a while taught classes in the areas of racism, oppression, human growth and development and multicultural education at Springfield College, Curry College and Anna Maria. She was a recipient of the Erskine Award given by the City of Worcester for her outstanding contribution to education, the Sojourner Truth Award from the National Association of Black Professional Women, the Woman of Substance Award for Leadership by the Brother-to-Brother Committee (precursor of the Holy Cross MIC) among others. She had likewise received citations for her work from the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
INTERSECTIONS publishes herewith Millner's verbatim responses to a variety of themes.
“I am not sure if I'm much different. Perhaps more patient.” This is how outgoing Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Multicultural Education Mable Millner summarizes her learnings in her more than three decades of professional work in higher education. Other than her stint at Mount Saint James, Millner - who officially retires from the college on January 20 – also worked for ten years as academic adviser and adult education program officer at the Office of Community Education Program at the University of Pittsburg and another 10 years as director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Admissions at Boston University. Having received her sociology and child development education degrees from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and her graduate degree from the University of Pittsburg, Millner also for a while taught classes in the areas of racism, oppression, human growth and development and multicultural education at Springfield College, Curry College and Anna Maria. She was a recipient of the Erskine Award given by the City of Worcester for her outstanding contribution to education, the Sojourner Truth Award from the National Association of Black Professional Women, the Woman of Substance Award for Leadership by the Brother-to-Brother Committee (precursor of the Holy Cross MIC) among others. She had likewise received citations for her work from the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
INTERSECTIONS publishes herewith Millner's verbatim responses to a variety of themes.
What memories and
impressions of Holy Cross do you bring with you as you end your stint as Associate
Dean and OME director?
Holy Cross has been a wonderful place to work in. I will
have fond memories of my time spent on the hill. I have considered my time at
Holy Cross as a privilege being able to encourage, engage, and advocate for our
underrepresented students and receive the support of colleagues in advancing a
campus community that is accepting of all its members. OME has grown and
flourished, being recognized as a valuable campus resource, a willing campus
partner and an open campus space for acceptance and comfort. I am grateful for
the many connections that I have made with students and as alumni, have turned
into friendships and kinships.
Where are we in
our current journey toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion on campus?
What gifts do we have as a community that will push us further in realizing our
dreams for the college? What challenges do we need to hurdle?
As a campus community which strongly upholds our mission
and embraces Jesuit values, we continue to provide a framework to advance
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
However, there does seem to be a disparity between what we believe and
our actions. Our challenges will
continue. There’s a continuing need to educate on the presence of alternate
narratives of life experiences; to acknowledge how our educational teaching can
omit, devalue and misrepresent the importance of the other, and to accept as Harvard
professor Anthony Jack reminded us: "admission does not mean acceptance." Our students continue to expressed their
dissatisfaction with curriculum offerings, classroom climate, and the lack of
the presence of faculty of color. As the
nation moves towards a shifting racial and cultural demographic, are we
prepared to meet the student of the future?
What is your
vision or wishes for the new OME?
OME will need to meet the changing needs of our
students. This will require listening to
student feedback and faculty input, and keeping up with best practices to
respond with creative, innovative, and targeted programming. I want to offer
assurance that the office is stable and moving to embrace the next decade of
students. The new staff will be composed of some familiar faces and they are
committed, passionate, and eager to propel OME forward.
What are your
plans after retirement?
The end of this journey of my professional career is
bittersweet yet I am looking forward to returning to North Carolina and
spending quality time with my mother who is 102 years young. Being able to reconnect with family and friends,
having time to travel and explore other opportunities as they arise is
exciting. Also being able to disconnect
from the reality of workdays will be freeing. I am leaving with smiles of
contentment and satisfaction. Job done!
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