Alumni Service Hall of Fame 2019 - 2020 Inductees
The College of Business honored the first inductees into its Service Hall of Fame in 2019-2009. Each year the dean and his staff chooses one or more individuals for this distinction based on their long-standing dedication to the College and its mission. Service Hall of Fame inductees are listed on a permanent display in the College of Business and are recognized during Hall of Fame Day during Business Week each spring.
DR. DIXIE MILLS
Emerita
Illinois State University (College of Business Dean Emerita)
Dixie Mills spent her entire career at Illinois State University. She was Dean of the College of Business from January, 1997 until July, 2007. Before assuming this role, she served as Acting Dean, Director of Graduate Programs and Research, and Professor of Finance in the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Law. Dr. Mills received her BA degree from Georgetown College (Kentucky) with a major in history, and earned her MBA and PhD degrees in finance from the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Mills was active in several finance associations, and served as President of the Academy of Financial Services and the Midwest Finance Association. Her teaching and research interests included financial institutions and corporate finance. She received College of Business Research and Teaching Awards, authored a number of refereed publications, and co-authored Managing Financial Institutions: An Asset/Liability Approach, a textbook published through five editions.
During her career, she served on the board of the Preferred Group Mutual Funds (managed by Caterpillar Investment Management Limited), was an Executive Consultant for the State Farm Illinois Region, and was a board member of many community, cultural, and philanthropic organizations in central Illinois. She was active with AACSB International, serving on two international committees and as advisor, mentor, and peer-review team member for many business schools across the country.
Several years after retiring, she moved to Tampa, Florida. She volunteers with Meals on Wheels, National Audubon Society, and other not-for-profit organizations. She enjoys birding, gardening, traveling, and following the progress of the College of Business and the accomplishments of students, alumni, and colleagues.