Dr. Chavonda Mills

Dr. Chavonda J. Mills serves as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Georgia Gwinnett College, where she leads the institution’s academic mission and student success efforts. With nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience, Mills has consistently driven institutional transformation and student success through bold, outcomes-focused initiatives. Her leadership encompasses five academic deans, the library, student success, and a broad spectrum of programs that foster innovation and student development.

As the chief academic officer, Mills has provided visionary leadership in academic program expansion, spearheading the growth of programs in high-demand workforce areas, including health professions, cybersecurity and education. Her efforts have resulted in innovative academic partnerships and articulation agreements with leading universities, expanding graduate pathways and workforce readiness for GGC students.

Mills has also focused on developing and implementing a comprehensive, student-centered strategy that is transforming student retention, persistence and degree completion outcomes. Her leadership has prioritized enhanced academic advising, targeted student communications, a robust first-year experience, and the integration of data-informed decision-making and predictive analytics. These efforts position GGC as a premier access institution for student success, with initiatives that holistically support students from enrollment through graduation and drive measurable gains in student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

Previously, as dean of the School of Science and Technology at GGC, Mills orchestrated the school’s first major reorganization, established the Institute for Environmental Science and Sustainability, and drove record growth in external funding – including a $200,000 Google Research Award and over $4 million in grant awards in three years. Her leadership resulted in enhanced research capacity, innovative academic programs, and strengthened industry and community partnerships.

Mills’s leadership development is further distinguished by her participation in the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership Institute, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Academy for New Provosts, and the ACE Leadership Program for Advancing to the Chief Academic Office. She is also deeply engaged in advisory and board service, including roles with the HERS-Luce STEM Leader Community, the LHVCCUC LSAMP Advisory Board, and the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Advisory Board, as well as serving as an external reviewer and on foundation boards dedicated to educational access, sustainability and community advancement.

Mills holds a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from Florida A&M University, a B.S. in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in chemistry from Spelman College. She is an active member of national professional organizations and has contributed to the field through peer-reviewed publications, national presentations and a U.S. patent for pharmaceutical innovations.