Matthew Cowin
Staff Writer
Intro
Dr. Kathryn Mills is a longstanding professor and Chair of French and French Studies at The University of the South. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in French Studies at Oxford University, and a Ph.D. in French Studies at Yale University. From there, she taught French at a college and high school level at various places before later arriving in Sewanee with her husband and children. She highlights Sewanee’s influence throughout her lifetime and its powerful liberal arts education, best supporting students.
Early Life
Originally from California, Mills resided internationally in her youth because of her father’s study abroad programs as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Alternative living and foreign connections introduced her to language: “I learned French at age 8 in a one-room schoolhouse in Taizé (a Christian village in the French region of Burgundy). At 12, I lived in a Bavarian castle learning German after my father befriended a German aristocrat.” Her early immersive educational experience would continue through an adjunct interest in literature as a young adult.
High School
In high school, Mills continued to study language while participating in a successful debate team, introducing her to communication and political science. “We were underdogs with index cards and investigative cases. It was a formative experience of fun, teamwork, debate, and languages. I began to think about a career in international relations.” These skills would largely serve as an underbelly of her principal interest in literature shaped in her college years.
College
At UVA, Mills’ high school interests began to fade with disinterest in politics and international relations classes. Reverting back to literature, her academic experience was fostered by both it and teaching. “We would work with short, very closely prepared readings.” Though she considered Sewanee, she selected UVA for its academic scholarship and prestige. Today, she sees Sewanee as the best college: “I was an Echols scholar at UVA with free tuition. Years later, I wish I’d chosen Sewanee but I’m still grateful to UVA.” She became more interested in graduate school throughout her tenure, leading to her future at Oxford and Yale.
Grad School
At Oxford, Mills faced an early challenge with the alternative teaching style: “I was working with my tutor more, and I spent my first year thoroughly studying six to eight important books. I did okay at the end but was shocked when my professor told me I only had to read the intro and conclusion.” Controversial literary movements at Yale became additionally difficult: “There was a large debate surrounding the traditional vs theoretical approach to literature. It was an intense environment for both undergrad and graduate students.” Regardless, Mills graduated honorably just as she’d done in college. Holding respect for her various living conditions, she began job searching across the country.
Early Career
Mills received her first job in South TX teaching community college French. She was immediately hooked by the state’s diverse geography. “The mesquite trees, sun, and flowers were such a contrast from gray and bleak New Haven.” Her impressions of the education system and students heavily influenced her optimal work setting. “The junior college was added to the UT Austin system and had an incredible international student community. The southwestern experience was a refreshing change from grad school.” After meeting her future husband at a pageantry, they moved to TN to continue careers in education.
Sewanee Experience
A Sewanee graduate himself, her husband began constructing their family home in the surrounding area while Mills worked various teaching positions at Belmont, Vanderbilt, and other places. She eventually received an invitation from Sewanee’s French Department to become a professor, where she easily connected with supportive colleagues. It was at this point that she fully realized the depth of Sewanee’s purpose. “I appreciated the tight-knit community. Conducting the French House and study abroad programs expanded the department’s role apart from traditional classroom education.”
Advice for young people/college students
Mills presents an array of advice for young students thinking about the future and themselves: “I’d encourage them to identify and pursue what they love and to consider a perspective of passion to the job they’d pursue in addition to their educational degree. Whatever their circumstance, the universal necessity of taking care of their mental health and enjoying youth is crucial to happiness.” She credits her lifelong affection and connection to Sewanee to this formal advice. “Sewanee has a lot to offer, so you can explore what you know or haven’t experienced. I’m impressed by the range of students, skills, and gifts that emphasize the power of liberal arts.” Mills’ contributions to education and the university are deeply resonant in her career and community experiences she similarly desires for her students.