FIYou: DeEtta Mills


Dr Mills pic

Name: DeEtta (Dee) Mills

Hometown: Centralia, WA

Job Title/Department: Director, Forensic DNA Profiling Facility; lecturer, Biology

Campus: Modesto A. Maidique Campus

In a nutshell: I direct and support research in DNA profiling for non-human model organisms for forensic science graduate students and biology undergraduates. Research topics include developing DNA profiling methods that support studies on plants; toxic and hallucinogenic mushrooms; equine; canine; and microbial communities. I also teach genetics and forensic biology.

Number of years at FIU: Eight

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Mentoring students, research and teaching.

What do you think faculty/staff and students should know about your department?

The Forensic DNA Profiling Facility is here to support research for biology, chemistry and forensic students. The facility has the expertise and the instrumentation to support any molecular biology projects.

Where is your favorite spot on campus?

My labs. This is where I can watch students grow from naïve to mature and competent scientists!

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about FIU?

FIU is a research-intensive university and growing.

Family snapshot:

I’ve been married 44 years and have two sons. Marc has his Ph.D. in environmental engineering and works for the U.S. EPA in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brett is a Fort Worth police officer on the Zero Tolerance Special Response team. I have eight grandchildren, ranging from 19 years old to 3 years old! The biggest problem is they live too far away.

Word that best describes you: Resilient

First paying job: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama

Favorite TV show: Animal Planet

Your proudest accomplishment:

Being a successful wife, mother and scientist, in that order.

What do you do when you’re not working at FIU?

We mostly work around our place. We have a 40-acre grove in the Redland near Homestead and raise Quarterhorses and Appaloosas. Most of our ‘free’ time is spent working on the ranch with the animals (we have sheep, cows, dogs, etc. in addition to the horses) and in the grove with its 6,000 avocado and longan trees.