05/12/2026
Alumni Spotlight: Livia Millard ‘76
Wenatchee Valley College graduates change the world. WVC Alum Livia Millard is just one example.
Livia transferred two years’ worth of credits from Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) to Eastern Washington University in 1976. She chose WVC because a satellite campus is offered in Omak.
“At the time, I was working at Paschal Sherman Indian School and the college had faculty members teach classes to a core group of teacher aides at the school,” she said. “Every one of us from that group received our teaching degree. I could not have done that without WVC Omak giving us that opportunity.”
Livia’s fondest memory at WVC was becoming a tenure faculty member, because she enjoyed working in student services.
“I also loved working with student government as their advisor and putting on events such as the annual United Pow Wow, Stand Against Racism and many acts at the Omak Performing Arts Center,” she said. “I enjoyed watching our student government officers taking on leadership roles and later becoming leaders within the community.”
Her favorite classes were English 101 and 102, because they helped her through other classes she was taking at the time.
“I did not have strong writing skills, and these classes helped me profoundly,” she said. “I also loved Tribal Elder Vera Best's leadership class, and I still love to bead to this day.”
WVC prepared Livia for her career and future goals by combining academic knowledge and practical experience.
“WVC prepared me for the professional real world,” she said. “It was a steppingstone of my career into the field of education.”
After transferring from WVC, Livia majored in education at Eastern Washington University and later attended Gonzaga University where she received her master’s degree, also in education.
Additionally, she began a tenured faculty position at WVC’s Omak campus as a student coordinator, multicultural director, and academic advisor. She also taught multiple classes including leadership, career and life planning, critical thinking, and sociology of race and ethnic studies.
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