Since 1971, Van. D. Mueller, Ph.D., has been inspiring students and colleagues alike at the University of Minnesota. He achieved emeritus status in 1997, having served as chair of the university’s Department of Educational Policy and Administration from 1972 to 1981.

During his tenure, Dr. Mueller has advised more than 150 doctoral students. In fact, because of his expertise in the field of education finance, four of his advisees were recognized for outstanding dissertation research by the American Education Finance Association, an organization he co-founded.

Dr. Mueller has become a nationally known and respected expert on education finance and Michigan is where his career began.

In 1964, Dr. Mueller earned his doctorate in educational administration from MSU. And, in 1980, he was named the MSU Department of Educational Administration and Higher Education’s Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Mueller received his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and his master’s degree from the University of Michigan.

While attending graduate school, Dr. Mueller served as a high school principal and as superintendent of Ashley, Mich. and Ithaca, Mich. school districts. Understanding the importance of teamwork in education, Dr. Mueller has been actively involved with the National PTA. He has served as its vice president and treasurer, and he is the past president of the Minnesota PTA.

Dr. Mueller’s career has also been marked by distinguished positions within state government. He directed a series of finance studies while working for the Minnesota Planning Agency and he headed a Governor’s Task Force in Human Resource Planning. In addition to representing Minnesota to the Education Commission of the States, Dr. Mueller has chaired two State Department of Education Task Forces on School Finance.

Since 1978, Dr. Mueller has served as coordinator of the Institute for Educational Leadership’s Minnesota site of the Education Policy Fellowship Program, a role in which he has overseen the development and growth of more than 300 fellows. Dr. Mueller has published more than 100 articles and chapters and he sits on the Journal of Education Finance’s Board of Editors.

A Michigan native, and a Minnesota legend, Dr. Mueller has inspired parents, colleagues and national experts with his commitment to educational quality and accountability.