After receiving his Masters and PhD in Education from the University of North Carolina, Dr. McMillen has held research and evaluation positions at both the state and local school district level since 1999. He has served in leadership roles for professional organizations related to educational research and assessment at the state and national level, including the North Carolina Association for Research in Education and the Directors of Research and Evaluation. Dr. McMillen has given numerous presentations to professional and community groups and published studies on a number of education topics, including school size, year-round schools, the achievement gap, and equity issues in course placements and related student outcomes.