A New Chief of Student Services

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Lance Millis (center, in front) is the new director for CEAT Student Services, surrounded by office staff members.

From hosting mock interviews and career fairs to offering résumé writing clinics and job search tips, CEAT Student Services is a one-stop shop for students looking to improve in the classroom, boost their soft skills and enhance their chances of employment following graduation.

In November, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology welcomed Lance Millis as the new director for Student Services. He came to CEAT from the College of Education, where he served as the assistant director of Student Services for more than 18 years. Before that, he spent seven years recruiting potential OSU students.

Millis knows the campus like a true Cowboy — during his senior year, he was a Pistol Pete — and CEAT’s reputation was one of the many reasons he pursued the position.

“CEAT has always had the best reputation and the biggest impact outside of Stillwater,” Millis says. “It’s exciting to be a part of a college that celebrates innovation and new ideas.”

As part of his new role, Millis has already successfully implemented some new ideas. His leadership has resulted in the reconstitution of the CEAT Ambassador Program with 25 students enrolled for the fall and a four-time increase in enrollment in the CEAT Summer Bridge Program — an annual course that prepares students for college life. He doesn’t claim all the credit, though.

Millis says he’s been impressed with CEAT faculty who make themselves available to students for consultation about a class, career matters and other mentorship, all of which appeals to CEAT students.

“CEAT students have great commitment and dedication — ,ore so than most college students,” Millis says. “We have nearly the best retention rate on campus in spite of having arguably the most difficult majors.”

Millis has set even higher goals for the coming years, including:

Improving the CEAT student retention rate to more than 90 percent.
Streamlining the professional school admittance process.
Simplifying the transition process for transfer students.
Expanding STEM recruitment.
Boosting student satisfaction in the adviser program.

Millis comes from a family of OSU Cowboys, including his father, brother, wife and brother-in-law. His bachelor’s degree in recreation management and master’s in natural and applied sciences are both from OSU. He and his wife, Linda, have been married for 27 years and have two daughters, Lauren and Lindsay.

For more information on CEAT Student Services, visit studentservices.okstate.edu.