Janis McMillen was elected to a second term on the LWVUS Board of Directors in 2010. She joined the League of Women Voters in 1993, and credits her involvement in the League with opening many other doors that furthered her volunteer efforts in the community. She held several board positions in her local League, including co-President, and several board positions in the Kansas League, including two terms as President.

For the past six years, Ms. McMillen has been Public Policy Chair for community-wide, human services planning agency, and advocates in the state legislature for financial support of human services. She served as Public Policy chair, Treasurer and President of an organization that advocates for separation of church and state and for quality public education for all Kansas students. She is in her second term on the Nominating Commission for the Kansas Tenth Judicial District. In addition, she was a member of the Community Advisory Board of Kansas City’s public television station.

Ms. McMillen earned a BS degree from Trinity University in San Antonio (TX) and a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Kansas Medical School. Following a three-year National Institutes of Health post-doctoral fellowship, she began a 35-year career in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. Her endeavors ranged from those of a research scientist using genetic engineering techniques to develop new products to holding the position of Vice-President of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs. During her professional career, she authored or co-authored 23 papers published in refereed scientific journals and one patent, and was an invited speaker at seven scientific meetings. Ms. McMillen was an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine for several years, teaching undergraduate, graduate and medical students. Since retiring from full-time employment, she continues to consult for animal health companies.