Debbie Mills

Dr. Deborah (Debbie) Mills is a rural social worker, Core Faculty Member with Walden. She holds a PhD from Capella University in the field of Human Services, a Masters in Social Work from Temple University, and a Bachelor in Social Work from College Misericordia (now known as Misericordia University). Dr. Mills has been employed by private for profit and not-for-profit social service agencies in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania and surrounding counties. She ran her own private practice from 2002 through 2012 assisting our most vulnerable populations in rural communities. Dr. Mills is considered a rural macro social worker. In the classroom and throughout each and every day, Dr. Mills promotes through role modeling and instruction the importance of the ethical self. This includes an understanding of the values, beliefs, behaviors, attitudes and norms that guide one’s behavior not only during work hours but in every day life. Currently, Dr. Mills is working with the Hazleton Integration Project (HIP) as a Program Director of Eradicating Food Insecurity Programs within the Greater Hazleton, PA area. She lives at home in Northeastern Pennsylvania with her husband of 30+ years, a son who lives with the angels, a daughter in law school and 2LT in the Army, and the family dog - Misha (a German Shepherd).

Education

PhD, Capella University

MSW, Temple University

BSW, College Misericordia

Public Service

Hazleton (Hispanic) Integration Project - Hazleton One Community Center, Board Member - Hazleton

Open Arms: Bereaved Parent and Child Support Group, Other - Montrose

Publications

Mills, D. (2014). Exploring the lived experience of older father caregivers of an adult child with intellectual disabilities.

Presentations

Mills, D. L. (2019). Common Threads: Uniting a divided community through building REAL - an Intercultural Model of Change. National Rural Social Work Caucus