Teresa Derrick Mills, Mpa, PhD
About Teresa Derrick Mills, Mpa, PhD
Teresa Derrick Mills, MPA, PhD, is a Principal Research Associate at The Urban Institute, where she has worked since 2018. She specializes in implementation science and continuous quality improvement, focusing on enhancing research translation for state and local governments and nonprofit organizations.
Work at Urban Institute
Teresa Derrick Mills has held multiple positions at The Urban Institute, a leading research organization based in Washington, D.C. She began her tenure as a Research Associate from 2010 to 2012. After a brief period away, she returned as a Senior Research Associate from 2014 to 2018. Since 2018, she has served as a Principal Research Associate. In her roles, she has focused on improving policies and practices in early care and education and workforce development.
Education and Expertise
Teresa Derrick Mills holds a PhD from The George Washington University, where she studied from 2007 to 2012. She also earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between 1990 and 1992. Her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science (BS), was obtained from Florida State University from 1986 to 1990. Mills specializes in implementation science and continuous quality improvement frameworks, applying her academic background to enhance research translation and practice.
Background
Before her current role, Teresa Derrick Mills worked in various capacities that contributed to her expertise. She served as a Policy Analyst for the Corporation for National and Community Service from 2009 to 2010 and assisted Dr. Kathryn Newcomer as a researcher at The George Washington University in 2010. Additionally, she was an Adjunct Professor at the School of Government at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2013 to 2014.
Consulting and Collaboration
Teresa Derrick Mills consults with local and state governments as well as nonprofit organizations to enhance research and practice. She engages in translating research into practice through the creation of syntheses, capacity-building materials, and webinars. Mills collaborates with various firms and funders to leverage diverse perspectives and expertise, focusing on building capacities for research, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement.
Focus Areas
Mills concentrates on the intersections of policy and practice within an intergovernmental and cross-sector context. Her work aims to improve policies and practices specifically in early care and education and workforce development. She applies her unique perspective, combining formal design training with practical experience, to create frameworks that resonate with practitioners.