BANTU Professor

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Terry L. Mills
Born	(1949-02-05) February 5, 1949 Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Education	University of Southern California (Ph.D., M.A.) California State University (M.A., B.S.) Long Island University (B.A.)
Known for	Aging research, African American mental health, health disparities, STEM workforce development, research administration
Awards	Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (FGSA)
Scientific career
Fields	Sociology, Gerontology, Health Disparities, Mental Health, Higher Education
Institutions	University 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 of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), election as a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (FGSA), leadership of federally funded educational and research initiatives, and scholarship cited more than 1,800 times according to Google Scholar.

Early life and education

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.

Academic career

Mills began his academic career as an instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles Extension and California State University, Dominguez Hills.

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

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

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

Research impact

According to Google Scholar, Mills' publications have received more than 1,815 citations and have achieved an h-index of 21 and an i10-index of 24. His scholarship has contributed to research on aging, caregiving, African American mental health, psychosocial distress, family relationships, and health disparities.

National leadership and professional service

National Institutes of Health

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

Gerontological Society of America

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.

Research leadership and sponsored programs

Mills served as Co-Principal Investigator on NSF Award DRL-2131762, EAGER: 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 Project (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

Mills' research has received attention from national, regional, and professional media outlets. His work on mental health disparities, grandparent-grandchild relationships, caregiving, children's literature, and end-of-life decision making has been featured through University of Florida media releases, newspaper coverage, public radio discussions, and professional publications.

Research on grandparents raising grandchildren received coverage through the Miami Herald, while additional media references identified in professional records include Time magazine, AARP, Florida Public Radio, WRUF Radio, Fox51 Television, the Gainesville Sun, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Bradenton Herald, and Lakeland Ledger.

Honors and awards

• 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