‘Make good choices’ says Payton Mills

By Allie Dickson//

Walking into the Volpe Athletic Center, prospective students and their families are met with warm hellos and smiling faces. Dozens of people are waiting there to welcome them and provide an amazing campus experience.

Inside the gymnasium are tables set up in three rows, two academic departments at each table and a professor to represent each major.

Admissions counselors are speaking to students ready to answer questions about the admission process.

What is not pictured is the planner behind it all, the one running behind the scenes making sure everything goes smoothly. Payton Mills is ready to tackle any issues that arise throughout the day.

Mills is the undergraduate admissions event specialist, whose job is to hire Blazer Ambassadors, the current students who give tours around campus. She also sets the tour route, helps train the Blazer Ambassadors and plans the events for prospective and admitted students throughout the year.

Perhaps Mills’ most important job is to adapt. She is always ready to step in wherever is needed and take the lead when the situation calls for it.

“There are no problems at events only solutions, if you dwell on the problem, you are wasting time,” she says.

Payton has a warm and bubbly personality. She loves interacting with the student workers she oversees.

Mills always makes a point to walk out of her office and down two flights of stairs occasionally to check up on the Blazer Ambassadors who have come to work. She will start up conversations with each one, making sure to ask how they are doing.

“I love being able to connect with people, both prospective and current students,” Mills said. “I think it’s important for people to feel connected.”

The admissions house is always lively with prospective students coming in and out, current students getting ready for tours and chatting with one another.

“Payton is always checking up on everyone and makes sure they’re doing all right,” said Blazer Ambassador Zoe Carnegis. “If you’re having a bad day or just need someone to talk to, Payton’s always there to listen.”

Mills has worked in the Admissions House for six years. She started as a Blazer Ambassador in 2016 before working as an intern for two years. After graduation, she applied for the opening as the front desk and visit coordinator.

Mills works alongside Elizabeth Gomer, senior associate director of Admission. The two are inseparable. During a short time in the winter of 2021-2022 Mills worked in the Alumni House, but she would walk over to have lunch with Gomer almost every day.

“I would consider (Payton) a friend, and when exciting things happen in my life, I like to share it with her,” Gomer said.

Mills recently was wed to her college sweetheart, Christian Lucente. Gomer, along with Holly Bonzagni, an administrative assistant who works next door in Strawn Cottage decorated Mills’ office in preparation from her return from her honeymoon.

Mills said she loves the people, the environment, and her job at Hood.

Every day, Mills makes sure to say goodbye to each Blazer Ambassador before their shift ends. Every goodbye ends with her infamous line, “Make good choices.”