Dean Mills Honored as Recipient of Pacheco Leadership Award

By Joe Moore
UM System News

Dean Mills

Columbia, Mo. (Sept. 20, 2005) -- The University of Missouri has announced that R. Dean Mills, dean of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia, is the 2005 recipient of the Manuel T. Pacheco Academic Leadership Award.

Mills was presented with a plaque and a $2,500 award at the Leadership Development Program Kickoff/Alumni Dinner, Sept. 19, at the Lodge of the Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks. Mills shared his views and exchanged ideas on leadership in university settings during a group session of the LDP earlier that day. The podcast, "My Top 10 Tips for Leaders," is available on this page.

Mills has served as dean of the School of Journalism for the past 16 years. Under his leadership, the school has created three research centers and currently serves as the headquarters for five professional organizations. He has led numerous fundraising efforts, including a $31 million gift, the largest in the University's history, to create the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute. Mills also has worked to increase the number of endowed chairs and to improve the quality and diversity of students in the school.

"Dean Mills thinks big. His vision is for the Missouri School of Journalism to retain and grow its indisputable reputation as the best school for the betterment of journalists and the journalism of tomorrow," said Pam Johnson, executive director of the Reynolds Journalism Institute. "He is truly a remarkable leader and dean."

My Top 10 Tips for Leaders (and why you can ignore them) Listen to Audio  (1:04:56) The links directly below will open a new browser window; copy and paste the URL into the podcasting software of your choice. iTunes will work in both the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Podcast: 64K Feed 16.1MB Better Sound Quality Podcast: 32K Feed 8.7MB Quicker Download

Mills shared his top 10 leadership tips with alumni of the President's Academic Leadership Institute at an afternoon session.

Mills visits with Ashok Midha, left, of the UMR campus, and Marty Townsend, MU campus.

Mills with Steve Graham, left, director of the President's Academic Leadership Institute, and Dr. Elson Floyd, UM President.

Several Journalism faculty members were on hand to congratulate Mills. From left: Suzette Heiman, Fritz Cropp, Mills, Mike McKean and Brian Brooks.

Before coming to Missouri in 1989, Mills served as director of the Pennsylvania State University's School of Journalism and then as coordinator of graduate study in communications at California State University, Fullerton.

Mills' research has focused on journalism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, journalism ethics, reporting techniques, new media technologies and the coverage of diversity and minority issues in U.S. media. He received a bachelor's degree in Russian and journalism from the University of Iowa, a master's degree in journalism from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate in communications from the University of Illinois.

The Manuel T. Pacheco Academic Leadership Award was created in 2002 and is presented to an academic administrator who exemplifies outstanding academic leadership at the University of Missouri. Former University of Missouri President Manuel T. Pacheco was recognized as a leader who exhibited humility and respect for others, and worked diligently to develop leaders around him. Award winners exemplify these characteristics.

Nominations can be made by members of the President's Academic Leadership Institute advisory committee or any alumni of the University of Missouri Leadership Development Program. A University-wide committee reviews the nominees.

The Leadership Development Program was initiated by Pacheco in 1999 to develop leaders at all four UM campuses.

Faculty Comments

Edited by D'Arcy Rapp

Kent Collins on working with Dean: "Dean encourages the faculty to think about the big stuff that really matters, to fight the good fights in journalism. Radio and TV people like me don't like dead air and silence, but in meeting with Dean, he uses dead air so both he and I can think."

Esther Thorson on Dean's vision for the J-School: "Dean has incredible vision. He looks at the media and academic environments to see where we fit in the big picture. Far-reaching vision makes the difference between a school that is just okay and an amazing place like our J-School. Dean has raised millions of dollars and has really brought great growth to the school through this funding. This allows us to expand what we do as journalists, and, of course, push forward with the founding of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute."

Cynthia Frisby on Dean's relationship with faculty: "As a mentor, Dean is incredibly encouraging and supportive. When I came to the University, I'll never forget when Dean came to me when I was having trouble getting published. After taking the time to watch how I teach, he said that I wrote like I spoke. A good speaker repeats points, while a scholarly paper should just say things once. That was why I had been having trouble. He had realized something I hadn't, and it resulted in my work getting published abundantly."

Brian Brooks on Dean's accomplishments as a dean: "Dean is the senior dean on campus and is very well respected by the administration of the University. It's good to know that the J-School's view is heard up the Quad at Jesse Hall. Dean's the fifth dean I've worked with since I've been here, and I'd definitely say the best. You just can't argue with what he's done. He's done a terrific job."

---

D'Arcy Rapp, a senior from Peoria, Ill., is majoring in Radio-TV Journalism. She has interned with two NPR affiliates and with Fleishman-Hillard public relations and has created television promotions for a KOMU-TV. Rapp has served as a University Tour Guide, Journalism Ambassador, Summer Welcome leader and Peer Advisor in the residence halls. An active member of the Alumni Association Student Board and Newman Center, Rapp was recognized as one of the campus' top students when tapped into Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honorary society.