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Vice President of Student Affairs
Dr. Ed Mills
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Mills began working in public higher education as a financial aid coordinator 37 years ago. He devoted his career to advancing student success by developing enrollment management and student services innovations, advancing equity, and fostering university partnerships. Dr. Mills earned a bachelor of science from Kansas State University, a master’s in counselor education from Pennsylvania State University, and his Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership/Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University.
At Sacramento State, Dr. Mills serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Enrollment Officer. Student Affairs includes 60 departments, programs, services, equity, and affinity centers serving the university’s 31,000 students. The division includes two self-support organizations (Students Health, Counseling, & Wellness Services and University Housing Services) and two auxiliary 501c3 non-profit organizations (Union/WELL, Inc. and Associated Students, Inc.).
The core of Dr. Mills’ leadership approach is service. Dr. Mills always makes time for students, faculty, colleagues, and his community. He actively participates in student and community events and is very visible on campus. Locally, Dr. Mills serves on multiple boards raising money to support student access, scholarships, and safety. He regularly volunteers to help local organizations supporting communities in need.
Academically, Dr. Mills teaches a First Year Seminar course, something he has done for 18 years at two universities. He has also taught in the Education Leadership doctoral program at Sacramento State, served on multiple doctoral and masters committees for students, and served as an external evaluator for faculty colleagues going up for promotion. He developed an online graduate course in Strategic Enrollment Management for the Notre Dame University of Maryland. Dr. Mills serves as a Co-Principle Investigator on several large federal grants. He also serves on the Advisory Board for Sacramento State’s Educational Doctorate program.