Michael Mills
The University of Central Arkansas has announced Michael Mills as the new dean of the UCA Graduate School. Mills will begin on Feb. 16.
In this role, Mills will oversee UCA’s Graduate School which represents degree programs from five academic colleges and provides a wide range of advanced educational opportunities including six doctoral programs, 34 master’s and specialist programs and 16 professional certificate programs. Additionally, the dean will oversee the Office of Sponsored Programs and play a key role in expanding funded research and strengthening UCA’s overall commitment to scholarship and community engagement.
“As graduate dean, I am committed to fostering innovative research, supporting faculty excellence and ensuring our graduate programs prepare students to be transformative leaders,” said Mills. “My goal is to strengthen UCA’s position as a destination for exceptional graduate education and research opportunities.”
Mills has served as interim dean of the Graduate School since January 2024. During his interim leadership, Mills expanded research funding opportunities across campus, developed strategic partnerships with academic programs, and implemented cost-reduction measures while streamlining processes for students.
In fall 2024, UCA’s graduate student enrollment was more than 1,840 students for the fourth consecutive year. This number included more than 520 first-time graduate students.
Mills previously served as associate dean in the College of Education and professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at UCA. His career began in K-12 education as a public school teacher and literacy specialist. Mills earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Education in English Education from Louisiana Tech University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
His research focuses on mobile learning integration and educational opportunity. Mills coordinated UCA’s 1:1 Mobile Learning Initiative and has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator and Google Education Trainer. He serves on the SXSWedu Advisory Board, has served as president of the Mid-South Educational Research Association, and reviews for multiple journals including the Journal of Research on Technology in Education and Tech Trends.
“Graduate education is central to the academic mission of our university, and Dr. Mills has the vision and experience to support its continued growth and success. UCA extends its gratitude to everyone who participated in the national search, particularly the search committee, chaired by Dr. Kurt Boniecki, and committee members Drs. Melissa Allen, Brent Hill, Jeff Hill, Glenn Jellenik and Jeff Whittingham,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Michael Hargis. “The engagement and thoughtful input of our campus community were invaluable in this process. We look forward to the leadership and innovation Dr. Mills will bring to graduate education and research at UCA.”
Mills lives in Little Rock with his wife, a school psychology specialist for the Little Rock School District, and their rescue dog Scout. Their son attends the University of Southern California.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Founded in 1907, the University of Central Arkansas is a premier student-focused public university located in Conway, Arkansas. UCA has nearly 150 academic programs and certificates within the colleges of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Behavioral Sciences; and Science and Engineering; and the Graduate School. To learn more about UCA, visit uca.edu, or through social media at Facebook, X, YouTube or Instagram.
