From Equations to Engagement
“My career has been like a dream come true. I wanted to be somewhere I could really plug in and have an effect, and I found it. Central and Pella had been sprinkled throughout my life and it truly feels like this is where I was meant to be.”
— Mark Mills
Mark Mills, professor of mathematics, embodies a commitment to excellence and a passion for guiding students on their academic journey.
Mills obtained his B.S. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. from Iowa State University. In his junior year at UNL, Mills was asked to lead supplemental instruction sessions for a course.
“I held a Q&A session a couple of days per week,” he says. “I enjoyed going back to the material I’d already learned. Preparing to answer questions forced me to understand the material on a deeper level and it helped me see the beauty of the things that I learned, but originally learned just to learn.”
This ignited a passion and led to a deeper understanding not only of the material but also of his own desired path.
“I started noticing how much fun my professors were having teaching classes,” Mills recalls. “I had the benefit of really good professors, and I started to think it could be interesting. I’d gone into mathematics not knowing what to do with it.”
After wrapping up his master’s degree, Mills decided he needed to experience the working world. He spent two years at Principal Financial Group® before deciding that teaching was where his heart truly lies.
“I like the flexibility of teaching, but the interaction with students and the chance to learn is just what I was seeking,” Mills says. “So, I got my Ph.D. and began looking at institutions that emphasized good teaching and that’s how I found Central.”
Mills’ teaching repertoire has encompassed many math courses at Central. His areas of expertise include probability, statistics and actuarial science — which developed during his career.
“I had a lot of math students who didn’t know what to do with the major once they graduated,” Mills shares. “One avenue we explored was using math in more of a business direction. I began encouraging students to think about actuarial work and realized colleagues in the business department were nudging students this way. So, we created a unified major that would cover all the bases needed to prepare students for what was next.”
Beyond the classroom, Mills has made significant contributions to students’ lives as the class dean for the Classes of 2022 and 2024. His genuine interest in getting to know students as individuals extends beyond academic pursuits, exemplifying his dedication to fostering a sense of community.
“This has been a great place to teach, and I’ve been part of a great department,” Mills shares. “It’s been very stable over the course of my time here and that’s one of the things I’ve been very thankful for. We know each other very well and understand each other’s strengths. It’s felt like home and I’m happy to go to work every day.”
One of Mills’ most cherished memories involves witnessing the transformation of students from wide-eyed first-year students to confident graduates, ready to embark on their next chapter.
“There’s nothing better than working with a student and there’s that moment where, suddenly, you can see it hits them,” Mills says.
In looking back at his 25 years, Mills emphasizes the importance of student-centeredness and active engagement in the academic and extracurricular life of the college — a philosophy that has defined his career and inspired many.
“I can’t believe it’s been 25 years,” Mills chuckles. “It’s gone by in a blink, which means that obviously, I’ve been having fun. My career has been like a dream come true. I wanted to be somewhere I could really plug in and have an effect and I found it. My faith is a large part of who I am. Central and Pella had been sprinkled throughout my life and it truly feels like this is where I was meant to be.”