I came to Illinois State in 1980 and never left! I happily joined a thriving business school nearing AACSB accreditation as I completed my Ph.D. in finance at the University of Cincinnati. It was the right decision.
I taught corporate finance and financial institutions courses at the undergraduate and MBA levels. My research focused on these areas, and I co-authored a textbook on financial institutions management.
After eight years, I became director of Graduate Programs and Research in the College of Business. During those years we offered our first corporate MBA and expanded community partnerships.
In 1997, I was appointed dean after serving as interim and had the honor of leading the college until retiring in 2007. These years were filled with excitement and challenges. So many alumni, friends, and business organizations joined with us to create a bright future for the college and our students. I will always be grateful for their generosity.
My happy memories of Illinois State are many and deep. Students and alumni are at the heart of them. Knowing of their successes is a continuing pleasure. A very special highlight was the State Farm Foundation’s gift for a new college home.
I relocated to Tampa, Florida. My days are filled with volunteering, exercise, gardening, international and other travel, time with family and friends, golf, and more. Birding is one new interest that keeps me outdoors, traveling to interesting places and challenged. I celebrate the campus progress and accomplishments of colleagues, and of course continue as a donor.
Contact me at 9801 Emerald Links Drive, Tampa, FL 33626, by email at dlmills@ilstu.edu, and on Facebook.
