John W. Mills, Ph.D.

Trained as a scientist and having taught at MIT, Harvard Medical School, Dartmouth Medical School, and institutions in Copenhagen and Munich, John is also a skilled academic administrator. His deep analytic skills, joined with a spirit of innovation, make John an outstanding coach for new presidents and provosts and an adept interim able to hit the ground running.

mills@dutcher.llc

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mills@dutcher.llc

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John W. Mills, Ph.D.

My entire adult life has been focused on a commitment to quality higher education whether serving as a faculty member and administrator at research universities or serving as the leader of small, private not-for-profit colleges. As a campus leader I have worked diligently to insure that the community is valued by the leadership and that the many disparate voices in the higher education structure are given the opportunity to he heard and most importantly, be solicited for input and advise.

When a community feels they have input into the decision-making process they are more than willing to give it their all to achieve institutional, versus personal, success. A critical part of that team atmosphere is having the right people on the team. I consider that one of the key elements of organizational leadership. Finding, evaluating, training and promoting the right people to carry out the mission of the institution is essential to success. This is especially critical when there is the need for organizational change. You cannot do it alone and must build, evaluate and, if need be, make changes to insure there is a committed unified approach to the goals that have been set.

A challenge for all of higher education and one that will not go away in the foreseeable future is the control of costs and therefore affordability. I feel that a constant review of processes and programs is a requirement and that flexibility and the seeking of efficiency must be built into every aspect of higher education administration. This also includes the need to encourage innovation and risk-taking so that no opportunity is missed, even if that opportunity eventually fails.

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John W. Mills, Ph.D.

59 Murphy Lane, Pray MT 59065

c. 518-524-2977

EDUCATION

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI B.S. Zoology 1969

Brown University, Providence, RI Ph.D. Biology 1973

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

2018-2020 President, Mount Aloysius College

2017–2018 Interim Provost, Mount Aloysius College

2004–2014 President, Paul Smith’s College    

2003-2004 Provost, Paul Smith’s College

2000-2002 Vice President for Academic Affairs, Paul Smith’s College

1999-2000 Professor, Division of Health Sciences, Clarkson University

1991-1999 Professor, Department of Biology, Clarkson University

1997 Visiting Professor, August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen

1995-1997 Visiting Scientist, Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY

1986-1991 Professor, Department of Anatomy, Dartmouth Medical School. 

1982-1986 Associate Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Dartmouth Medical School.

1981-1982 Visiting Scientist, Dept. of Physiology, Univ. of Munich, West Germany. 

1980-1985 Associate Biologist, Dept. of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital.

1980-1982 Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School; and Assistant Professor, Whitaker Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1978-1982 Director, Laboratory of Renal Biophysics, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital.

1975-1978 Assistant Biologist, Laboratory of Renal Biophysics, Massachusetts General Hospital; and Instructor, Department of Anatomy, Harvard Medical School.

1973-1975 Instructor, Department of Anatomy, Temple University School of Medicine.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

June 2020 Higher Education Consultant, Dutcher LLC,. 

2018-2020 President, Mount Aloysius College

2017-2018 Interim Provost, Mount Aloysius College

2004-2014 President, Paul Smith’s College

2003 Provost, Paul Smith’s College

2000-2003 Vice President for Academic Affairs, Paul Smith’s College

Experience prior to 2000 can be provided upon request.

COMMUNITY & CIVIC POSITIONS

2001-2012 Board of Directors, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

2008-2010 President, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

2004-present Board of Directors, Countess Alicia Spaulding-Paolozzi Foundation

2003-2016 Board of Directors, Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation

2012-2016 Chairman, Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation

2004-2011 Board of Directors, Adirondack Economic Development Corporation

2007-2010 DEC Commissioner’s Committee on Adirondack Economy

2007-2017 Member, College for Every Student Foundation Strategic Task Force

2009-2010 Member, Second Nature’s National Transportation Policy Task Force

2011-2014 Member, Committee on Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to Climate Disruption, American College and University President’s Climate Commitment

2013-2014 Board of Trustees, Council of Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu), Albany, NY

2013-2014 Member, Sub-committee on Financial Aid, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

2004-2017 Board of Directors, Franklin  County NY Empire Zone

2013-2015 Steering Committee, Point Positive, Angel investment group for the Adirondack North Country

2018-2020 Executive Roundtable, Blair County, Chamber of Commerce

2019-2020 Board of Directors, Cambria County Chamber of Commerce 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE-major courses

Details can be provided.

RESEARCH SUPPORT WHILE ACTIVE FACULTY MEMBER

Details can be provided.

EDITORIAL BOARDS:

1984-1989 Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry.

1985-1987 Molecular Physiology.

HONORS

1999 Clarkson University Student Association-Outstanding Teacher Award

2008  College For Every Student – Mario Pena Award, minority recruitment

2012  Adirondack Park Institute – Adirondack Leadership Award

2020  PA Business Central top 100 people

PERSONAL

DATE OF BIRTH:  June 14, 1947 

PLACE OF BIRTH:  Fall River, Massachusetts

PUBLICATIONS

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals:

1.  Mills, J.W. and Ernst, S.A.:  Localization of sodium pump sites in frog urinary bladder.  Biochem. et Biophys. Acta. 375:  268-273, 1975.

2.  Mills, J.W., Ernst, S.A. and DiBona, D.R.:  Localization of Na+-pump sites in the frog skin.  J. Cell Biol. 73:  88-110, 1977.

3.  Ernst, S.A. and Mills, J.W.:  Basolateral plasma membrane localization of ouabain-sensitive sodium transport sites in the secretory epithelium of the avian salt gland.  J. Cell Biol. 73:  74-94, 1977.

4.  Mills, J.W. and DiBona, D.R.:  On the distribution of Na+-pump sites in the frog skin.  J. Cell Biol. 75:  968-976, 1977.

5.  Mills, J.W. and DiBona, D.R.:  Distribution of Na+-pump sites in the frog gallbladder.  Nature 271:  273-275, 1978.

6.  Mills, J.W. and Malick, L.E.:  The mucosal surface morphology of the toad urinary bladder:  Scanning electron microscopic study of the natriferic and hydro-osmotic response to vasopressin.  J. Cell Biol. 77:  598-610, 1978.

7.  DiBona, D.R. and Mills, J.W.:  Distribution of Na+-pump sites in transporting epithelia.  Fed. Proc. 38:  134-143, 1979.

8.  Mills, J.W., Macknight, A.D.C., Dayer, J.M. , Ausiello, D.A.:  Localization of 3H-ouabain sensitive Na+-pump sites in cultured pig kidney epithelial cells (LLC-PK1).  Amer. J. Physiol. 236:  C157-C162, 1979.

9.  Masland, R.H. and Mills, J.W.:  Autoradiographic localization of acetylcholine in the rabbit retina.  J. Cell Biol. 83:  159-178, 1979.

10. Masland, R.H. and Mills, J.W.:  Choline accumulation by photoreceptor cells of the rabbit retina.  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 77:  1671-1675, 1980.

11. Kreisberg, J.I., Mills, J.W., Jarrell, J.A., Rabito, C.A. and Leaf, A.:  Protection of cultured renal tubular epithelial cells from anoxic cell swelling and cell death.  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 77:  5445-5447, 1980.

12. Hayden, S.A., Mills, J.W. and Masland, R.A.:  Acetylcholine synthesis by displaced amacrine cells.  Science 210: 435-447, 1980.

13. Ernst, S.A. and Mills, J.W.:  Autoradiographic localization of 3H-ouabain-sensitive sodium pump sites in ion transporting epithelia.  J. Histochem, Cytochem. 28:  72-77, 1980.

14. Mills, J.W.:  Autoradiography of diffusable substances:  verification of the sites of localization by correlated physiological, biochemical and pharmacological studies.  J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29:  136-142, 1981.

15. Jarrell, J.A., King, J.B. and Mills, J.W.:  A scanning micropipette molecule microscope.  Science 211: 277-279, 1981.

16. Mills, J.W., Macknight, A.D.C., Jarrell, J.A., Dayer, J.M. and Ausiello, D.A.:  Interaction of ouabain with the Na+-pump in intact epithelial cells.  J. Cell Biol. 88:  637-643, 1981.

17. Bobrycki, V.A., Mills, J.W., Macknight, A.D.C. and DiBona, D.R.:  Structural responses to voltage clamping in the toad urinary bladder.  I.  The principle role of granular cells in the active transport of sodium.  J. Membrane Biol. 60:  21-33, 1981.

18. DiBona, D.R., Sherman, B., Bobrycki, V.A., Mills, J.W. and Macknight, A.D.C.:  Structural responses to voltage clamping in the toad urinary bladder.  II.  Granular cells and the natriferic action of vasopressin.  J. Membrane Biol. 60:  35-44, 1981.

19. Mills, J.W. and Quinton, P.M.:  Formation of stimulus-induced vacuoles from secretory granules in tracheal submucosal glands of the cat.  Amer. J. Physiol. 241:  C218-C245, 1981.

20. Jarrell, J.A., Mills, J.W. and  King, J.G. : A mass spectrometer to measure transepithelial unidirectional labeled water fluxes.  Amer. J. Physiol. 241: C86-C88, 1981.

21. Thompson, I.G. and Mills, J.W.:  Isoproterenol-induced current changes in glands of frog skin.  Amer. J. Physiol. 241:  C250-C257, 1981.

22. Hildebrandt-Stark, H., Mills, J.W. and Fawcett, D.:  Localization of 2H-[1-2,4 dichlorobenyl]1H-indayole-3-carboxcyclic acid – [3H-AF1890] in rats testis using freeze-drying autoradiography.  Biology of Reproduction 27: 495, 1982.

23. Thompson, I.G. and Mills, J.W.:  Chloride transport in the gland of the frog skin. Amer. J. Physiol. 244:  C221-C226, 1983.

24. Mills, J.W. and Prum, B.:  Morphology of the exocrine gland of the frog skin.  Am. J. Anat. 171: 91-126, 1984.

25. Masland, R.H., Mills, J.W. and Hayden, S.A.:  Acetylcholine synthesizing amacrine cells:  Identification and selective staining using autoradiography and fluorescent markers.  Proc., Royal Society of London 223: 79-100, 1984.

26. Masland, R.H., Mills, J.W. and Cassidy, C.:  The functions of acetylcholine in the rabbit retina.  Proc., Royal Society of London 223:  121-139, 1984.

27. Rapaport, J., Mills, J.W., Franki, N., Church, H.H. and Hays, R.M.:  Autoradiographic studies of solute transport across the toad urinary bladder.  Kidney Int. 27:  726-730, 1985.

28. Mills, J.W. and Skiest, D.F.:   Role of cAMP and the cytoskeleton in volume control in MDCK cells.  Mol. Physiol. 8: 247-262, 1985.

29. Mills, J.W., Thurau, K., Doerge, A. and Rick, R.:  Electron microprobe analysis of intracellular electrolytes in resting and isoproterenol-stimulated exocrine glands of the frog skin.  J. Membrane Biol. 86: 211-220, 1985.

30. Mills, J.W.:  Ion transport across the exocrine glands of the frog skin.  Pflugers Archiv. 405:  544-549, 1985.

31. Mills, J.W. and Lubin, M.  Effect of cAMP on volume and cytoskeleton of MDCK cells.  Amer. J. Physiol. 250:  C319-C324, 1986.

32. Mills, J.W., Horster, M. and Wilson, P.:  Bleb formation during anoxia is not a prerequisite for eventual cell death in renal tubule cells.  Cell Biol. Internatl. Rep. 10:  11-17, 1986.

33. Robinson, D.H. and Mills, J.W.:  Ouabain binding in tadpole ventral skin.  I.  Kinetics and effect on intracellular ions.  Amer. J. Physiol. 253:  R402-R409, 1987.

34. Robinson, D.H. and Mills, J.W.:  Ouabain binding in tadpole ventral skin.  II.  Localization of Na pump sites.  Amer. J. Physiol. 253:  R410-R417, 1987.

35. Allen, J.C. and Mills, J.W.:  Two lines of MDCK epithelial cells with different volume and ion responses to calcium ionophore A23187.  In Vitro 24:  588-592, 1988.

36. Nattie, E.E., Mills, J.W., Ou, L.C. and St. John, W.M.:  Kainic acid on the rostral ventrolateral medulla inhibits phrenic output and CO2 sensitivity.  J. Appl Phys. 65:  l524-l534, l988.

37. Nattie, E.E., Mills, J.W. and Ou, L.C.:  Pirenzepine prevents diethyl pyrocarbonate inhibition of central CO2 sensitivity.  J. Appl. Physiol. 65:  1962-1966, 1988.

38. Kennedy, S.M., Mills, J.W. and Friedman, P.A.:  Stimulation by PTH of calcium absorption in confluent Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells.  J. Cell Physiol.  139:  83-92, 1989.

39. Feldman, G.M., Mills, J.W., Ziyadeh, F.N., Booz, G.W. and Kleinzeller, A.:  Propionate induces cell swelling and K+ accumulation in shark rectal gland.  Amer. J. Phys.,  257: C377-C384, 1989.

40. Kleinzeller, A. and Mills, J.W.:  K+-induced swelling of the dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias) rectal gland cells is associated with changes of the cytoskeleton.  Biochim. Biophys. Acta.  1014: 40-52, 1989.

41. Mills, J.W. and Ferm, V.F.:  Effect of cadmium on F-actin and microtubules of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells.  Tox. Appl. Pharm.  101: 245-254, 1989.

42. Devlin, D.J., Mills, J.W., and Smith,  R.P. : Histochemical localization of rhodanese activity in rat liver and skeletal muscle. Tox. Appl. Pharmacol. 97: 247-255, 1989.

43. Albrecht, D.L. , J.W. Mills, R.J. Noelle: Membrane immunoglobulin-cytoskeletal interactions. III. Receptor crosslinking results in the formation of extensive filamentous arrays of vimentin. J. Immunol. 144: 3251-3256, 1990.

44. Kleinzeller, A., G.W. Booz, J.W. Mills, F.N. Ziyadeh. pCMBS-induced swelling of the dogfish (Squalus acanthias) rectal gland cells: role of the (Na,K)-ATPase and the cytoskeleton. Biochim. Biophys. Acta: 1025: 21-31, 1990.

45. Woodford, S. L. and J.W. Mills. Anoxia decreases phagocytosis and ATP levels in pulmonary alveolar macrophages. Am. J. Resp. Cell &Mol Biol. 6: 326-334, 1992

46. Ziyadeh, F.N., J.W. Mills, A. Kleinzeller. Hypotonicity and cell volume regulation in shark rectal gland: role of organic osmolytes and F-actin. Am. J. Physiol. 262:F468-479. 1992

47. Mills, J. W. J.-H. Zhou, L. Cardoza, V.H. Ferm. Zinc alters actin filaments in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Tox. Appl. Pharmacol. 116:92-100. 1992

48. Chen, W.C., J.W. Mills, A.G. Harmsen. Development and resolution of Pneumocystis carinii  pneumonia in severe combined immunodeficient mice: a morphological study of host inflammatory responses. Int. J. Path. 73:709-720. 1992

49. Mills, J.W., E.M. Schwiebert, B.A. Stanton. Evidence for the role of actin filaments in regulating cell swelling. J. Exp. Zool. 268:111-120. 1994

50. Schwiebert, E.M., J.W. Mills, B.A. Stanton, .  The actin-based cytoskeleton regulates a chloride channel and cell volume in a renal cortical collecting duct cell line. J. Biol. Chem. 265:7725-7728. 1994.

51. Mills, J.W. Oral presentations in a physiology laboratory as a means to improve writing skills.  Adv. Physiology Educ. 17:S47-S48. 1997

52. Pedersen, S.F., J.W.Mills, E.K. Hoffmann.. Role of the F-actin cytoskeleton in the RVD and RVI processes in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Exp. Cell Res. 252:63-74. 1999

53. Mills, J.W., S.F. Pedersen, P.S. Walmod,  E.K. Hoffman. Effect of cytochalasins on F-actin and morphology of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Exp. Cell Res. 261:209-219. 2000.

54. Mills, J. W., L. Ryan, R. LaCourse, R. J. North. Extensive Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection of liver parenchymal cells in immunocompromised mice. Infect Immun. 69: 3175-3180. 2001.

Book Chapters/Reviews/Symposia Volumes:

B1. Masland, R.H. and Mills, J.W.:  Aspects of choline metabolism in photo-receptor cells.  In:  Effect of Constant Light on Visual Processes.  Williams, T.P., Baker, B.N. (eds.).  Baker, New York, pp. 433-443, 1979.

B2. Mills, J.W. and DiBona, D.R.:  Relevance of the distribution of Na+-pump sites to models of epithelial transport.  In:  Current Topics in Membranes and Transport.  Vol. 13.  Boulpaep, E.E. (ed.).  Academic Press, New York, pp. 387-400, 1981.

B3. Leaf, A., Mills, J.W., Cheung, J. and Bonventre, J.:  Nature of the cellular insult in acute renal failure.   In:  Pathophysiology of acute renal failure.  Chapter 21.  Brenner, B. (ed.).  Academic Press, New York, 1983.

B4. Benos, D.J., Balaban, R.S., Biggers, J.D., Mills, J.W. and Overstrom, E.W.:  Developmental aspects of sodium dependent transport processes of preimplantation rabbit embryos.   In:  Regulation and Development of Membrane Transport Process.  Chapter 14.  Graves, J.W. (ed.).  John Wiley and Sons, 1985.

B5. Allen, J.C., Coffey, A.K. and Mills, J.W.:  Involvement of cytoskeletal organization and NA/H exchange in dibutyryl cyclic AMP induced alterations of MDCK cell volume.  In:  Symposium on Brush Border Membrane and Sodium-Coupled Transport.  F. Alvarado (ed.).  Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam.  pp. 415-419, 1986

B6. Mills, J.W.:  The Cell Cytoskeleton:  Its Role in Volume Control.  In:  Current Topics in Membranes and Transport.  Vol. 30.  Gilles, R., Kleinzeller, A. and Boles, L. (eds.).  Academic Press, New York, pp 75-101, 1987.

B7. Mills, J.W., Schwiebert, E.S. and Stanton, B. Cytoskeleton and Cell Volume Regulation. In:  Cell Volume Regulation. K. Strange ed. CRC Press. Chap. 14:241-258. 1993

B8. Mills, J.W., E. Schwiebert, and Stanton, B.A., The cytoskeleton and membrane transport. Curr. Opin. Nephrol. Hyper. 3:529-534. 1994

B9. Mills, J.W.  &  L. Mandel.  Role of the cytoskeleton in regulating membrane transport. FASEB J. 8:1161-1165, 1994

B10. Mills, J.W., The cytoskeleton and epithelial function. Chap 13. in: Epithelial transport: A Guide to Methods and Experimental Analysis, ed. Wills, N., S. Lewis & L. Reuss. Chapman & Hall, NY, 1996

B11. Mills, J.W. and M.H. Roberts. 1998. Employing multiple learning strategies in a large introductory Biology class.  5th Annual Leading Edge Technologies Symposium

B12. Hoffmann, E.K. and J.W.Mills. 1999. Membrane events involved in volume regulation. Chap. 6 In: Current Topics In Membranes 48:123-196.

B13. Pedersen, S.F. E.K. Hoffman, J.W. Mills. The cytoskeleton and cell volume regulation. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 130: 85-99. 2001.

OP-ED

O1. Mills, J.W. Higher Ed reauthorization requires careful review.  Invited editorial, Albany Times Union, Sunday, February 22, 2004.

O2. Dalton, R., and J.W. Mills.  A learning curve:  Poor students in rural districts can achieve a college education.  Invited editorial, Albany Times Union, Albany, New York, January 27, 2008.

O3. Dalton, R., and J.W. Mills.  College challenge for rural kids.  Invited editorial, Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, August 1, 2008.

O4. Dalton, R., and J.W. Mills.  Make college a reality for all.  Invited editorial, Albany Times Union, Albany, New York, March 12, 2013.

05. Glenn. K. and J.W. Mills.  Paul Smith’s Helps Found Alliance for Resilient Campuses.  Invited editorial, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Saranac Lake, NY July 10, 2014