Mills Receives Prestigious National Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching

Foy D. Mills, Jr., Professor and Agribusiness Program Leader in the Department of Agricultural Sciences & Engineering Technology, was recently honored with a National Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Dr. Mills was presented with the award on November 15, 2015, at the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Mills, who came to �鶹��Ʒ in the fall of 2012 after 23 years of service at Abilene Christian University (including 10 as department chair there), leads the Agribusiness Program in SHSU’s Department of Agricultural Sciences & Engineering Technology. He was nominated for the award by a colleague in the department, Dr. Marcy Beverly. Dr. Mills presently teaches Principles of Agricultural Economics, Ag Sales and Consulting, Agriculture and Government Programs, and a graduate course in Agricultural Policy.

Dr. Mills has received numerous recognitions for teaching and student mentorship. He has been awarded the Non-Land-Grant Agriculture and Renewable Resources Universities’ (NARRU) Distinguished Educator Award and the North American Teachers of Agriculture’s (NACTA) Distinguished Educator Award. In addition, he has received the NACTA Teaching Award of Excellence, the NACTA John Deere Award, the NACTA Southern Region Outstanding Teacher Award, and has been recognized as a NACTA Teacher Fellow. Dr. Mills has also received teaching and advising awards at the university and college level in recognition of his innovations in teaching.

The Food and Agricultural Sciences Program, a partnership among the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU), the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, recognizes outstanding college professors of agriculture, natural resources, veterinary and human sciences. A selection committee of nationally recognized teachers and scholars choose two national recipients and two early career awardees. There are also six regional awards. Nominees are evaluated based on their ability as instructors, educational innovation, service to students, professionalism and scholarship.

Dr. Stanley Kelley, head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences & Engineering Technology, is a previous recipient of the National Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching, having been recognized with the award in 2012.

Left to right: Dr. John Pascarella, Dean of the College of Sciences; Dr. Foy Mills; Dr. Bryan Garton, associate dean and director of academic programs for the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR)

Left to right: Jay T. Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, Purdue University; Dr. Foy Mills; Dr. John Pascarella