Dear UT Community,
I am delighted to announce that Lillian Mills will serve as the next permanent dean of the McCombs School of Business, effective immediately. She has served in this role as interim dean since April 2020, and we are excited she has agreed to continue serving as dean.
After a competitive national search, Dean Mills’ experience and her commitment to supporting faculty, students and staff set her apart. During the past year, she has worked tirelessly to support the McCombs and university community with enthusiasm, creativity and focus.
“I’ve seen Lil’s strengths as a leader for many years, dating back to our time as department chairs together. Most recently, we’ve all observed the incredible job she’s done as interim dean during the pandemic. After a highly competitive national search, it was clear we already had the best candidate right here at UT,” said Jay Hartzell, president of UT Austin. “Beyond her infectious energy and sense of optimism, she exemplifies the drive for excellence in teaching and research that we seek to instill across the forty acres.”
Dean Mills knows UT well and brings valuable experience to the role as dean. She joined the McCombs faculty in 2006 in the Department of Accounting. She is widely regarded for her research on tax reporting. In the classroom, she is a nationally renowned educator who is passionate about the success of all students.
She received a doctorate in accounting from the University of Michigan and master’s and undergraduate degrees in accounting from the University of Florida. Prior to joining McCombs, Mills spent a year at the U.S. Treasury Department as the Stanley Surrey senior research fellow in the Office of Tax Analysis. She was also an assistant and associate professor of accounting at the University of Arizona from 1997 to 2005, and she practiced professionally with two national CPA firms from 1981 to 1989, shaping her research on earnings management.
I would like to thank the search committee and acknowledge their efforts that resulted in the selection of an excellent and proven leader. I would also like to thank President Hartzell, who as the previous dean of McCombs elevated the reputation and impact of the community.
Please join me in congratulating Dean Mills.
Sincerely,
Dan Jaffe