Tia McMillen

Tia Nichole is the Senior Director of Executive Communications at Edward Jones, where she crafts the voice of the firm’s senior leadership and champions communication as a force for good. With a focus on clarity, connection, and purpose, she helps leaders articulate bold vision, navigate complexity, and inspire action—so that clients feel understood, associates feel empowered, and communities grow stronger together.

Before joining Edward Jones, Tia Nichole spent 18 years in senior public affairs roles across the U.S. Department of Defense, where she led strategic communication efforts in both military medicine and supply chain logistics. Her work supported readiness and resilience for service members and their families worldwide, translating complex policies into clear, compassionate messages during moments of crisis, innovation, and change.

Tia Nichole also serves as a Navy Reserve public affairs officer and is currently the operations officer for NPASE Headquarters, where she leads operational planning and readiness for more than 100 sailors across three units. In 2019, she deployed with Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade to Bahrain, serving as both the Navy Staff Executive Officer and the command’s public affairs officer—simultaneously leading 52 sailors while providing strategic counsel and media engagement in one of the military’s most dynamic regions.

She holds four master’s degrees: one in business and organizational communication from Northeastern University, one in management from the American College, one in public leadership from the University of San Francisco, and one in advanced financial planning from the American College, along with a graduate certificate in women’s leadership from Cornell University, and is a trauma-informed career coach. She is also a Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer and holds the Joint Professional Military Education Level II qualification. She was recently accepted into VCU’s doctorate in leadership program.

Outside of the office, she is a professor of business and communication courses at Tidewater Community College; she serves as a professor and a curriculum designer in the graduate public leadership program at University of San Francisco; and is a professor for the graduate organizational communications program at Northeastern University.

She is also the proud owner of a resume writing business. In a volunteer capacity, Tia Nichole serves as a Veteran Service Officer; as an usher, actor, speaker, and Board Member for Open Stage Harrisburg; and as an outdoor volunteer for Blue Star Families Outdoors.

• Executive communication & thought leadership
• Strategic & crisis communication
• Public speaking & oral communication
• Media relations & community outreach
• Course facilitation & design

• Mis-and-dis information campaigns
• Educational leadership
• Joint & interagency planning

• Volunteer, Blue Star Families Outdoors (2024-Present)
• Volunteer & Member, Alumni Council Student Experience Committee, The American College (2023-Present)
• Membership & Recruiting, The Veterans Campaign (2020-Present)
• Volunteer & Development Committee Member, Open Stage Harrisburg (2011-Present)

• The American University, MS in Advanced Financial Planning, 2024
• University of San Francisco, MA in Public Leadership, 2021
• The American University, MA in Management and Leadership, 2013
• Northeastern University, MA in Business and Organizational Communication, 2012
• Messiah University, BA in Communication, 2008

• Senior Director, Managing Partner and Thought Leadership Communications, Edward Jones (2025-Present)
• Senior Communications Planner, Defense Health Agency (2018-2025)
• Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Navy Reserve (2011-Present)
• CEO, Heaps of Help (2020-Present)
• Adjunct Professor, Tidewater Community College (2020-Present)
• Adjunct Professor, Northeastern University (2020-Present)

• Outstanding Adjunct Faculty of the Year Award, Tidewater Community College (2023-2024 academic year)
• Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, Tidewater Community College (2021-2022 academic year)
• Craig Newmark Academic Fellow, University of San Francisco (October 2020 - October 2021)
• Veteran Scholar, The American College (October 2012 & December 2021)
• Thompson-Ravitz Award for Best Internal Communications Program (August 2021)
• Thompson-Ravitz Award for Best COVID-19 Communications Program (August 2021)
• Thompson-Ravitz Award for Navy Community Relations Program of the Year (December 2016)