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New Planning Director on Board at DPNR

May 23, 2007 — Wanda Mills-Bocachica, Ph.D., has been hired as the new director of the Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning Division, according to a news release from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
"Dr. Mills-Bocachica comes to the department with impeccable academic and experience credentials, all essential to invigorating the department and this administration’s planning mission," said Robert S. Mathes, DPNR commissioner.
Mills-Bocachica is trained as an architect and urban planner, and is locally recognized for her community and humanitarian interests, the news release said.
A member of the Charlotte Amalie High School Class of 1979, Mills subsequently received formal training in architecture and urban planning from the following academic institutions: bachelor of science in architecture from Ohio State University, master’s studies in environmental planning from Arizona State University, master of planning from the University of Puerto Rico, and doctor of philosophy in urban planning and public policy from Rutgers University.
While practicing as a graduate architect in Arizona from 1985-1988, Mills completed work drawing elevations and sections for the Glendale Public Library (the largest public library in Arizona), a full set of working drawings for a Valley of the Sun restaurant and work on other commercial and industrial projects, the news release said.
Upon returning to the Virgin Islands in 1988, Mills defined an early master plan for the Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef Resort while employed with the firm of deJongh Associates. She also coordinated the Cyril E. King Airport's 20-year master plan and primarily managed the Phase I, post-Hurricane Hugo reconstruction of both the Ulla F. Muller and Adelita Cancryn Schools.
Throughout the years, Mills has taught courses in site-planning design, urban studies, Caribbean identity and culture and world literature at Arizona State University, Rutgers University and the University of the Virgin Islands.
Prior to reestablishing her consulting practice, Synthesis Development Consultants, Mills served as architectural historian and historic preservation planner with the V.I. State Historic Preservation Office from 2001- 2003, the news release said.
In the 1980s, Mills served as an intern at the project view division for the city of Scottsdale, Arizona. "Her work at this incredibly progressive planning office served as her inspiration to return to government as planning director," the news release said.
Wanda Mills-Bocachica, Ph.D. bears her two surnames in honor of her two known grandparents, Ina Theodosia Mills and Carmelo Bocachica. She is the daughter of Fiolina and Kenneth B. Mills and is the proud mother of 6-year-old son, Alain Kennard Odjougbele Kouchica.

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