Barbara J. Millis became the second Director of the UNR Excellence in Teaching Program (ETP) on July 1, 2004 after serving for nine years as the Director of Faculty Development at the US Air Force Academy.  Prior to that—beginning in 1982—she worked in faculty development at the University of Maryland University College.  Barbara received her Ph.D. in English literature from Florida State University.

She is well-known in faculty development circles and is a sought-after workshop presenter and speaker/keynoter.  She has offered workshops and keynotes at over 300 colleges and universities including several overseas.  She is a featured speaker at numerous Lilly Teaching Conferences and at “Boot Camp for Profs.” 

Barbara has published numerous articles on topics such as cooperative learning, classroom observations, the teaching portfolio, microteaching, syllabus construction, classroom assessment/research, focus groups, academic assessment, and academic games.  Oryx Press published in 1998 a book, co-authored with Philip Cottell, Cooperative Learning for Higher Education Faculty. In 2002 Stylus Press published Using Simulations to Enhance Learning in Higher Education, co-authored with John Hertel.  A second book in the series on academic games will follow.  The IDEA paper series published Enhancing Learning-and More!-through Cooperative Learning, available at http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_38.pdf

At the U. S. Air Force Academy, Barbara won both a teaching award and a research award.  In Fall 2002 she loved being a Visiting Scholar at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.  Since coming to UNR, she has become a Senior Associate with the Teaching, Learning, Technologies Group and recently offered a series of webcasts on teaching, learning, and assessment.  She has also become a featured consultant for the IDEA Center at Kansas State University.