November 28, 2007

Purdue awards Order of Griffin to WL mayor

Interim Provost Victor Lechtenberg presented the award to Mills at a meeting of the Purdue-West Lafayette Community Partnership Team. The Order of the Griffin is given to individuals for outstanding service to Purdue who go beyond the call of duty to benefit the university, Lechtenberg said.

"Jan Mills has worked hard to strengthen the partnership between the city and Purdue," Lechtenberg said. "One example of her leadership was the mobilization of local cooperation that helped bring the Butler Aviation facility to Purdue Research Park."

Mayor since 2003, Mills has served in numerous leadership positions. Among them:

* Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, serving on its executive, environmental, municipal finance and legislative committees.

* National League of Cities' Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Steering Committee.

* Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana.

* Indiana Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission executive board.
 
* Vice president of the Indiana Democratic Mayors Association.

* Chair of the New Chauncey Neighborhood Association.

* First board of directors for New Chauncey Housing, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that purchases and rehabilitates homes.

Mills also served on the West Lafayette City Council, West  Lafayette Board of Works and Safety, the steering committee for three West Lafayette Strategic Plans, and the Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission. She helped organize the West Lafayette Neighborhood Coalition and co-chaired the "town and gown" Community Partnerships Committee with Purdue University.

Mills was born in Hoxie, Kan., in 1952. She has a bachelor of science degree from Iowa State University. She worked for more than 20 years as a research technician in the life sciences field until her election as mayor

Writer: Jeanne Norberg, (765) 494-2096; jnorberg@purdue.edu  

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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