Women to Watch at UA Little Rock: Emily Mills
In celebration of Women’s History Month, UA Little Rock is profiling women in leadership positions who are making a difference at the university and in the community.
In honor of Women in Construction Week, the next Woman to Watch at UA Little Rock of 2024 is Emily Mills, director of planning design and construction in Facilities Management.
Tell us about yourself and your background.
My name is Emily Mills. I have been in the Design and Construction industry for almost 17 years. Straight out of college, I joined the design team at Lewis Architects Engineers here in Little Rock. In my tenure there, I developed a passion for functional design. Our market in the industry was primarily K-12 and higher education. Stretching budgets has always been a strength of mine. Making big design impacts in a few key locations within a building allows for a client’s budget to go further. I definitely fine tuned this skill while working with the firm.
Quickly realizing my passion for building buildings that could be functional, easily maintained, budget friendly, as well as aesthetically beautiful, I began developing my professional resume to become a facilities director. My diverse professional background varies from interior architecture, commercial furniture sales, and healthcare design. Each of these experiences have allowed me to develop a unique skill set that led me to become the director of planning design and construction here at UA Little Rock.
I thrive in a team atmosphere. I have been a part of a team for most of my life whether it be in athletics as a high school student, a coach of peewee sports, a mother to a collegiate athlete, or just a diehard Beebe Badger. Through my athletic experiences, I have learned that successful teams are developed when everyone knows and owns their unique roles. First, you have the coach, who is ultimately responsible for everyone’s success and carries the pressure associated with this expectation. Then the players. They are divided into their specific positions. Some are the leaders or the star and some are the support players. Not one is more important than the other.
A truly successful team also has an extensive support system. This could be parents of players, teachers in a school district, or community sponsors, etc. I carry this same structure into my professional life. The stars in education are the professors. They are the ones who are teaching and molding the next generation. I am here to play the support role. I want to provide spaces that inspire students and professors alike. Spaces that function for their desired use while being beautiful, and that will last.
I am married to the love of my life, Sean Mills, who recently returned home from a long 9-month deployment to the Middle East. Together, we have five children. Logan Babel is a junior on a choral scholarship at Ouachita Baptist University studying Worship Studies and Christian Studies with plans to serve in ministry. Joey Babel is a sophomore at Ouachita Baptist University. She is the point guard for the Lady Tigers basketball team and is studying kinesiology. Gavin Mills is a senior at Sylvan Hills High School graduating in May and will be attending UA-Pulaski Tech. Grant Mills is a freshman at Sylvan Hills Junior High School, and Olivia Mills is in the first grade at Beebe Early Childhood.
What is your current position and professional duties at UA Little Rock?
I am the director of planning design and construction. I oversee all things construction and renovation. From new flooring in an office space to a completely new building on campus, all construction runs through the facilities management department.
What brought you to UA Little Rock? It was actually through professional relationships that I have developed throughout my career. When the position here became available, I had many phone calls from friends advising me to apply. They spoke very highly of UA Little Rock and the team here. After doing some research, I got excited about the things that are happening here at UA Little Rock and wanted to be a part of them.
What are some of the exciting projects that you are working on at UA Little Rock?
I am working with Leslie Hutchison, associate vice chancellor of Facilities Management to oversee Trojan Way.
This month the COSMOS project is kicking off. It’s a renovation to the sixth floor of EIT.
Most of the projects we are working on at this time are maintenance related. Several buildings are getting new roofs, upgraded flooring, or just a cosmetic refresh.
What woman has inspired you the most and why?
Melissa Masingill. I had the privilege of working for Melissa for a short time. She was in leadership at a local healthcare institution. I will never forget the first time I saw her. I was sitting in orientation excited about the opportunity to work for an organization that I would soon fall in love with and in walks this beautiful woman. She had such a presence. Without even talking, she demanded your attention. Then she began speaking about the organization. She was vice president of marketing and communications and when she spoke you could feel her passion and pride. My desire has always been that when I walk into a room, I will have the confidence to speak with conviction and passion.
Fast forward a year. I eventually rose to a leadership position on her team. It was then that I experienced her compassion, professional guidance, but most of all friendship. Our journey as women, mothers, and wives was extremely similar and our professional paths parallel in many ways. It was during this time that I realized I could do it all. I can be a strong successful professional woman that sits at the table with men and holds her own. I can be a devoted wife who supports her husband in his professional journey. I can be an involved mother and not miss out on my children’s lives. I can do it, because I saw her do it.
What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
The only two things in life that you can control are your attitude and your effort. You cannot change what others say about you. You can control how you respond. You cannot control who likes you or not, but you can control how you treat people. You cannot control how hard others work or the time that they put in, but you can control how hard you work.
Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn.
At the age of 19, I bought a restaurant. I was the owner/operator for around seven years.
What is your favorite quote and why?
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13.
My life has been filled with challenges and crises. This verse gets me through. It reminds me that I am not alone and that with Him, I have that strength to get through any challenge.
