2014
Alum Award Recipients
Calia Brencsons-Van Dyk ’90
Distinguished Achievement Award
Calia Brencsons-Van Dyk is an Emmy and James Beard Award-winning producer who has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. Her theater career began at Mills where she minored in the subject and graduated in 1990 with the Marion Stebbins Long Award for the most promising student in the performing arts. A year later, Professor of Dramatic Arts Jim Wright gave Calia her professional push when he hired her to direct the female version of The Odd Couple in Lisser Hall. Shortly thereafter, she moved to New York to act at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA).
Nine years ago, Calia joined the team at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, where she worked for multiple seasons on the Emmy Award-winning Martha Stewart Show, Martha Stewart’s Cooking School, Martha Bakes, and Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn. Other projects have included primetime specials, ad campaigns, and programs such as Emeril’s Table with Chef Emeril Lagasse, Martha Stewart’s Apprentice Finale, and the Live Finale of the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off, Whatever, Martha!, and Whatever, You’re Wrong.
Calia is a US State Department alumna; former president of AADA’s alumni association; Daytime Emmy Awards voter; and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television Arts and Sciences, and the French American Chamber of Commerce. She is currently a partner in Sandbox Creative LLP and a consultant at Caliativity Communications.
Anita Aragon Kreplin ’63
Outstanding Volunteer Award
Since graduation, Anita Aragon Kreplin has been actively involved with the College and the AAMC in a variety of roles. She was an instructor in the Spanish Department from 1970 to 1974 and remained close to the College through her marriage to Darl Bowers, professor of biology, until his death in 2011.
As a volunteer, Anita was a class agent twice and was a member of the AAMC Board of Governors for three terms, serving as vice president and president. As president, she became a member of the College Board of Trustees. As a governor, she served on numerous committees including the Alumnae of Color, Alumnae–Student Relations, Diversity, Nominating, Reunion, and Travel Committees. Her participation with the AAMC enabled her to become engaged with bright, creative, and committed Mills students, faculty, staff, and alumnae. A teacher for thirty-five years, she was challenged and nourished by students at Mills College, San Francisco University High School, and Oakland High School where she retired as an assistant principal.
Anita is currently enjoying life with family and friends and her new husband Karl whom she originally met through a Mills classmate in their sophomore year. They look forward to many travel adventures together. Still active with the AAMC, Anita continues to relish the “magical madness of Mills.”
Cynthia Guevara ’04
Recent Graduate Award
Cynthia transferred from Vista College (now Berkeley City College) to Mills in 2001. With her heart set on being a high school history teacher, she graduated with a BA in anthropology and sociology. Her volunteer activities began in 2002 when she joined the Diversity Committee (now the Alumnae of Color Committee). The AAMC was so impressed with her work, Cynthia was awarded a Pearl M in 2004.
Cynthia served on the Board of Governors where she diligently worked on a number of committees including the Nominating, Finance, Resource, and Educational Outreach Committees. She is the immediate past chair of the Alumnae of Color Committee. In this role, it was she who branded the on-campus Reunion happy hour Mills After Dark and oversaw a number of hugely successful events. Cynthia has also served as a member of a number of Reunion Planning Committees. Her heart for volunteerism is not limited to Mills. She has also volunteered with the Oakland East Bay Symphony and Meals on Wheels of San Francisco.
Cynthia is the proud mother of Che Alex Guevara of Sacramento and Chenesa Alexis Guevara of Oakland and the super-cool grandmother to future NBA superstar De’sonn Shipp. Having transitioned out of her leadership roles with AAMC, Cynthia recently launched Cynthia Guevara & Associates, an events and project management venture.