Academic Advisor Diane Mills retires from Western after 42 years
After decades of service to generations of students, the legendary Diane Mills has retired from Western after 42 years.
In late January, a celebration was held in her honour that featured heartfelt accolades from friends and leaders, and a fitting musical tribute by students. More than 100 students, faculty, retirees, and staff were on hand to celebrate Diane’s legacy as academic advisor, and express their gratitude for her lifetime of work.
Every undergraduate Music student since the mid-1990s will know Diane’s name; and all will have benefited from her care and thoughtful advice while navigating the complexities of a Music degree.
In 2023, Diane was recognized with the Western Award of Excellence, Western's highest level of campus-wide recognition for outstanding performance. Recipients demonstrate "exceptional commitment to the university’s values: integrity, respect and commitment to service." As part of the nomination package at the time, John Cuciurean, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Admissions & Programs), noted, "I was struck early on by the fact that former students and alumni would frequently come by to visit Diane in her office, bearing gifts of thanks for service that she provided. The lasting and profound impact her work had on their lives has been and continues to be deep and profound."
During formal remarks at the retirement celebration, each speaker re-iterated how profoundly Diane’s tenure had positively impacted the lives of students, as well as those who had the privilege to work alongside her.
Last summer, before they knew about her plans to retire this year, the Music Soph Team and Faculty of Music Students’ Council approached Diane to ask her permission to create a flag in her honour. She was honoured by the request, and the students proceeded to create a glorious pink flag featuring Diane’s face. The flag debuted during O-Week 2025, and will continue to be part of Music traditions for many more years to come.
Warm messages of thanks and tributes were collected from current students, faculty and staff before the internal celebration event, which were presented to Diane in a bursting 16-page booklet during the event.
We are now collecting tributes, memories and messages from alumni for an additional booklet which will be passed along privately to Diane in the spring. Submit via form here. Please share your messages by March 31, 2026.
Dean Michael Kim noted in his remarks that it is difficult to fathom the Don Wright Faculty of Music without Diane Mills. He noted she “has been the soul of Music student advising for generations” and above all, “we are endlessly grateful for her devotion, her heart, and the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind.”
View a selection of photos from the event
Musical tribute from the students
FOMSC President Callista Foti and Head Soph Cosette Holliday, together with the FOMSC team and Music Sophs, performed Simple Minds’ 1980s classic “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” with revised lyrics in tribute to Diane:
Won't you meet me in TC?
That’s where she’ll be, Diane, you know it, she’ll say
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Courses or a program change, I’ll figure it out
We’ve sent our wishes and prayers
Somehow she’s always there with magic and flare
Though change may pull us apart
You’ll always remain inside our hearts, we say
ALL:
We won’t forget about you
Won’t, won’t, won’t, won’t
We won’t forget about you
As you walk on by
We will call your name
As you walk on by
We’ll sing of your fame
As you walk on by (x3 bars)
We will call your name (x3 bars)
We’ll sing of your fame (x2 bars)
Come on, let’s celebrate
ALL:
We say
La, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
When you walk on by
We will call your name
We’ll sing of your fame
