A Message from Nancy

Hello, Everyone!

Thank you for taking the time to come and visit my blog. I am very excited about the upcoming election for Vice-Chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. I would truly treasure the opportunity to utilize my experience and skills in assisting Chairman Jim Burn in strengthening our party.

Please feel free to peruse the links to my projects, my photos, and my biography.

Nancy

Nancy's Bio

Nancy Mills was born and raised in Allegheny County by a family of dedicated and active democrats. She was taught to think politically from an early age, starting at six years old listing democratic candidates on a blackboard. Building off this solid foundation, she has experienced life from all perspectives and traveled a road that has led her down many diverse paths. She has been in turn a mother, country music performer, radio and television producer, manager, educator, farmer, business owner, writer, and elected official. Through all of this, Nancy has developed the necessary skills to bring unity to the Allegheny County Democratic Committee by keeping lines of communication open for all voices and finding the common ground needed to build a stronger Democratic Party.

Nancy did her undergraduate work at Chatham University and then went on to earn her Ph.D. in Communications and Rhetoric at Duquesne University. Prior to pursuing her advanced degrees, she and Lou Christie produced her radio show, "Ring Renee for the Red Hot Country News," and released a record on RCA Records. Nancy reported and wrote for two music publications and was a television producer for Robert Morris University. This extensive experience in communications directed her research interests in communications and rhetoric. She has learned many principles that guide her political thinking today, such as practicing inclusion as opposed to exclusion and maintaining civility instead of cynicism.

The study of rhetoric and the birth of democracy in ancient Greece helped Nancy realize why she is a Democrat; her studies taught her that you can only find truth through dialogue, discussion and understanding the viewpoint of the other. She believes that this is the Democratic way and has enacted this philosophy in all of her leadership positions within the Democratic Party as well in other areas of her life.

Currently, Nancy Mills is Managing Partner of Roslea Farm, an historic landmark in the Pittsburgh region which houses an operating greenhouse, a renovated barn, and a bed and breakfast. It is frequently referred to as the unofficial democratic headquarters—due in no small part, of course, to the fact that Rick the democratic donkey makes his home there. She is also in the process of writing a college textbook Hospitality and Tourism Law for the publishing company, Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Nancy is also involved with numerous causes and organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Settler's Cabin Park, and University of Pittsburgh's Women's International Club. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women and is Chair of the Women's Caucus of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. Nancy also serves on Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee and the Moon Township Planning Commission. She was a delegate to the Democratic Convention in 2008.

Nancy is happily married to Dick Mills, former University of Pittsburgh football stand-out who went on to play for the Detroit Lions. She is the proud parent of attorney Russell P. Mills; Robert Morris University professor, Richard J. Mills, Jr.; and clothing designer Nancy Mills Traugott. She is also the proud grandparent of Luc Traugott and Jaya, Richard, Zara, and Sejal Mills.