Dr. Foy D. Mills, Jr. is Vice-President of Ag Systems for JLA International (JLA). Dr. Mills has served the US and international peanut industry for over three decades, first as an Assistant Professor and Extension Ag Economist at the University of Georgia (UGA) from 1987-1989, and since 1991, in various research, education, and leadership roles within JLA including writing for and editing, In a Nutshell, the JLA crop newsletter.
Dr. Mills now provides full-time support to the peanut industry after concluding a 41-year career in US higher education in 2022. He began his work as a professional educator as an instructor of agriculture at Lubbock Christian University (LCU), followed by stints at Texas Tech University as a USDA-ARS National Needs Fellow, UGA as previously noted, Abilene Christian University where he rose to Professor of Agribusiness and Department Chair, Sam Houston State University where he served as Professor and Agribusiness Program Leader, and finally as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at LCU. During his professional career, he was able to establish a seamless relationship between industry and academics, thereby enhancing student engagement. His work with students was recognized with five different national excellence in teaching awards and two distinguished educator awards.
Dr. Mills was raised in the small farming community of Anton, Texas, where his family were cotton farmers. He earned a B.S. in Agribusiness with honors from LCU in 1980. He completed the M.S. in 1983 and the Ph.D. in 1987 in Agricultural Economics at Texas Tech University.
