Don Mills walked into the annual Parent’s Council reception like any other year – only this year to discover the new Student Services Suite would be named after him. “My first reaction was to become very emotional,” said Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs. “But I knew they would expect me to make a speech so I steeled myself to be able to make it through.”

On the second floor of the new Brown-Lupton University Union, students, faculty, staff and parents will be able to see the Donald Mills Student Services Suite where the Leadership Program, Greek Affairs and Transitions will be housed.

“I’m still overwhelmed,” Mills said. “If you’re at a place long enough, someone will do something nice for you.”

Mills has been at TCU for 39 years and said he is grateful to the university for the opportunity to work with students.

“I’ve been here a long time and worked with a lot of students,” Mills said. “Our visions for TCU have helped a lot of people. This recognizes the people at Student Affairs, not just me.”

The dedication was a collaboration of the Parent’s Council, faculty, staff and friends of Mills, said Susan Adams, dean of Campus Life. The Parent’s Council is an advisory board to Mills and Student Affairs, Adams said.

“They throw parties for students and are ambassadors across the country and in the community for TCU,” Adams said.

Every year on the Thursday and Friday of Parent’s Weekend, the council meets and has a reception on Thursday, Adams said.

“When Mills showed up at the reception he knew something was up,” said Mike Russel, associate dean of student affairs. “He saw people from the community, former students, and his own family and knew that it wasn’t just the normal reception.”

Mills is well respected across the nation for his leadership in Student Affairs, Adams said. He’s calm in a crisis and fun to work with, she said.

By the time the University Union opens, Mills will have spent 40 years at TCU, Adams said.

“It’s virtually unheard of for someone to have dedicated 40 years to one school,” Russel said.

“He would have said to honor someone else if we had told him about the dedication,” Adams said. “He’s very humble.”

Adams said the room to dedicate to Mills was not decided up front, but it seemed very appropriate to name the suite after him.

“This has been the highlight of my career,” Mills said. “It is exceptionally meaningful.