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Draft:Terry L. Mills

  • Comment: Web citations should link to pages that specifically mention Mills and his role, not just to the home page of the institution mentioned (refs 4 to 10 inclusive). Paul W (talk) 08:17, 9 June 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: Draft includes no inline citations. Wikipedia requires all assertions to be supported by reliable sources. Additionally, article needs multiple citations of significant coverage (in-depth; more than passing mentions, listings, routine reporting) in reliable independent secondary sources. Paul W (talk) 18:32, 8 June 2026 (UTC)


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Terry L. Mills
Born (1949-02-05) February 5, 1949 (age 77)
Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Southern California (Ph.D., M.A.)
California State University (M.A., B.S.)
Long Island University (B.A.)
Known forAging research, African American mental health, health disparities, STEM workforce development, research administration
AwardsFellow, Gerontological Society of America (FGSA)
Scientific career
FieldsSociology, Gerontology, Health Disparities, Mental Health, Higher Education
InstitutionsUniversity of Florida
Morehouse College
John Carroll University

Terry L. Mills (born February 5, 1949) is an American sociologist, gerontologist, higher education administrator, researcher, and research development strategist. His work has focused on aging, health disparities, African American mental health, educational equity, STEM participation, workforce development, and institutional research capacity building. He is known for service on the National Advisory Council on Aging, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH),[1] election as a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America,[2] leadership of federally funded educational and research initiatives, and scholarship cited more than 1,815 times according to Google Scholar.[3]

Early life and education

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Mills was born on February 5, 1949, in Manhattan, New York City. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Long Island University, a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Planning and a Master of Arts in Behavioral Science from California State University, and both a Master of Arts in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Sociology and Gerontology from the University of Southern California.[4]

Academic career

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In 1997, he joined the University of Florida as Assistant Professor of Sociology and was later promoted to Associate Professor.[5] During his tenure he served as Assistant Dean of the Graduate School and Director of the Office of Graduate Minority Programs,[6] followed by Associate Dean for Minority Affairs and Director of the Office for Academic Support and Institutional Services.[7]

In 2007, Mills joined Morehouse College as Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences.[8] He later served as Dean for Research and Director of Sponsored Programs, overseeing a research portfolio exceeding $16 million.[9]

In 2014, Mills was appointed Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at John Carroll University.[10]

National leadership and professional service

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National Institutes of Health

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From 2005 to 2008, Mills served on the National Institutes of Health National Advisory Council on Aging,[1] the principal advisory body to the National Institute on Aging. He subsequently chaired the Council's Task Force on Minority Aging.

Gerontological Society of America

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Mills was elected a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (FGSA), one of the Society's highest professional distinctions recognizing sustained contributions to aging research and gerontology.[2]

Research leadership and sponsored programs

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Mills served as Co-Principal Investigator on NSF Award DRL-2131762, EAGER[11] : Investigating Barriers and Strategies to Increase HBCU Participation in STEM Education Research, a $299,818 project examining barriers and strategies affecting participation by Historically Black Colleges and Universities in STEM education research.

He also served as Co-Project Director of the NSF-funded John H. Hopps Research Scholars Program (HRD-2011889), a $350,000 initiative focused on mentoring, undergraduate research participation, graduate-school preparation, and STEM success among Black male students.

Public engagement and media coverage

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Mills' research has received attention from national, regional, and professional media outlets. His work on mental health disparities,[12] grandparent-grandchild relationships,[13] caregiving,[14] and end-of-life decision making[15] has been featured through University of Florida media releases,[16] newspaper coverage,[17] and professional publications.[18]

Selected publications

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  • Mills, T.L. and J. K. Haynes (2022). Increasing the Participation of African American Male Students in STEM. Feb 16, 2022 | Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Education & Training.[19]
  • Mills, T.L. and Cody, S. (2011). Psychology of Older Adults: Exploring the Effects of Class and Culture on the Mental Health of African Americans. A chapter in the Handbook of Race and Developments in Mental Health. E.C. Chang and C.A. Downey (eds.), Springer Publications[20]
  • Mills, T.L. and Gomez-Smith, Z. (2005). Skipped Generation Families: Sources of Psychological Distress Among Grandmothers of Grandchildren Who Live in Homes Where Neither Parent Is Present[21]
  • Mills, T.L. (1999). When Grandchildren Grow Up: Role transition and family solidarity among baby boomer grandchildren and their grandparents.[22]

Honors and awards

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  • Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (FGSA)
  • Presidential Medallion for Distinguished Service, University of Florida
  • William R. Jones Outstanding Mentor Award
  • Teacher of the Year, University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Outstanding Mentor Award, Gerontological Society of America Task Force on Minority Issues in Gerontology
  • Yale/National Institute of Mental Health Research Fellowship
  • National Institute on Aging Predoctoral Research Fellowship

References

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  1. 1 2 "National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA)". National Advisory Council on Aging. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  2. 1 2 "GSA Current Fellows - see 2005". Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  3. ↑ "Google Scholar Index". Google Scholar. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  4. ↑ "USC Sociology PhD Alumni". USC PhD Alumni. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  5. ↑ "Research Profile". Research Gate. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  6. ↑ "Administrative Memo". UF Appointment Announcements. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  7. ↑ "UF students and faculty explore the racial aftermath of Katrina". TheGainesville Sun. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  8. ↑ "World House at Morehouse". Digital Worlds Research. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  9. ↑ "RCMAR-Advisory Committee Members". RCMAR Advisory Council Members - University of Alabama, Birmingham. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  10. ↑ "John Carroll University adds chief diversity officer". Crain's Cleveland Business. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  11. ↑ "EAGER Investigating Barriers and Strategies to Increase HBCU Participation in STEM Education Research". Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  12. ↑ "Differences in the indicators of depressive symptoms among a community sample of African-American and Caucasian older adults". Community Ment Health J. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  13. ↑ "Research on Grandparent and Grandchild Relationships in the New Millennium". Journal of Family Issues. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  14. ↑ "Shared Lives, Well-being and Institutional Forces Influencing Intergenerational Relationships". Journal of Family Issues. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  15. ↑ "Intergenerational Differences and Similarities in Life-Sustaining Treatment Attitudes and Decision Factors". Family Relations. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  16. ↑ "UF Researcher: Grandchildren May Play Role In Caring For Grandparents". UF News Archive. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  17. ↑ "UF students and faculty explore the racial aftermath of Katrina". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  18. ↑ "Could the College Admissions Scandal Have Been Prevented by a "Glyph"?". Edutech Digest. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  19. ↑ "Participation of African American Male Students in STEM". Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  20. ↑ "Psychology of Older Adults: Exploring the Effects of Class and Culture on the Mental Health of African Americans". Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  21. ↑ "Skipped Generations". Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  22. ↑ "Role Transition". Retrieved 2026-06-08.
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