Alumni Network Leadership Council Chair Kimberly Mills (L) with Chair Elect Casey Nelson (R) at the 2026 Alumni Reception
PILI is grateful to Kimberly Mills who has been serving as Chair of our Alumni Network Leadership Council for the last year and will conclude her term at the end of this month.
Kim is a native of Los Angeles, California and graduated from the University of Southern California. She received her Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School. After graduating from law school, Kim clerked at the Orange County Public Defenders Office and for the Honorable Suzanne G. Bruguera in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles. She received her LL.M. in Child and Family Law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. While pursuing her LL.M., Kimberly was selected as the recipient of the Mary C. Russo Memorial PILI Law Student Internship affording her the opportunity to represent foster youth in special education and school discipline matters as a member of Legal Aid Chicago’s Education Project. Kim previously worked at Matt Cohen & Associates, as a faculty fellow and assistant director of Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Life After Innocence program, and at Cabrini Green Legal Aid. Currently, Kim is with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender as an Assistant Public Defender and also serves as the Director of the Professional Identity Formation Program at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Law School Externship Program.
As Kim concludes her service as chair, we asked her a few questions about her involvement with PILI.
LOOKING BACK ON YOUR TERM AS CHAIR, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I’m most proud of building a stronger connection with PILI. I introduced small but meaningful changes, like table topics at the Alumni Reception, to create a more welcoming environment that eases the pressure current Interns and Fellows often feel about networking at events. I also worked closely with PILI staff to refine the Alumni database, helping us better reach out to Alumni and continue growing our Alumni community.
WHAT HAS SERVIGN ON THE ALUMNI NETWORK LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEANT TO YOU PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY?
It’s been such an honor. I believe deeply in the work PILI does, and this role has given me a meaningful way to strengthen my connection to the organization and its mission. Serving on the Council has helped me grow, and I feel far more confident in my ability to connect with new alumni.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE PILI ALUMNI TAKE AWAY FROM BEING PART OF THIS NETWORK?
Community, connection, and contribution — those are the three words that come to mind. I feel like part of a wonderful community of people dedicated to public interest work, connected not only to fellow Alumni but also to the Young Professionals Board. And at its core, PILI is about contribution: working to ensure that marginalized and vulnerable communities have access to legal services and support in navigating a complex, often intimidating system.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A PILI ALUM WHO IS CONSIDERING BECOMING MORE INVOLVED WITH PILI?
Join! Every good thing starts with a small step, and when a group of people who believe in the PILI mission come together to share and workshop ideas, great things happen. Not to mention, the members of the Alumni Network are some of the most wonderful people I know.
AS PILI APPROACHES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSAY, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE ALUMNI NETWORK WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OR ACCOMPLISH?
I’d love to see us continue growing the network and deepening engagement — building an even stronger, more active community of Alumni who stay connected to PILI and to each other.