Helen Probst Mills

Helen Probst Mills is a former in-house investment bank attorney. She relocated to North Carolina after over a decade living overseas. A native New Yorker, Helen received her Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University and her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Chicago.

Helen’s interest in politics began at a young age. During high school, she worked for her NYC Councilmember, and while in college she interned on the Hill for her Congressman. During law school, Helen worked for a fair housing advocacy organization and then in the Legal Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. After graduation, Helen worked in the General Counsel’s office of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Upon moving to London, Helen first worked inhouse at NatWest Markets and then at HSBC.

As a proud Lillian’s List endorsed candidate, Helen ran for the North Carolina State Senate in 2018 and 2020 highlighting unmet community needs, especially advocating for Medicaid Expansion. Helen was also endorsed by Planned Parenthood South Atlantic along with other organizations. While unsuccessful in her runs for office, doing so deepened her determination to uplift other qualified women who are running for public office at all levels of government. In 2021, Helen co-founded the New Rural Project, a non-profit organization focused on engaging young and marginalized residents in rural communities to amplify their voices through increased civic and electoral engagement.

A dedicated community member, Helen has served on many local non-profit boards, including the Northern Moore Family Resource Center and Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills. Governor Cooper appointed Helen twice as a member of the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees. Helen presently serves as a member of the Sandhills Community College Foundation Board and she is also a member of The Carter Center Board of Councilors. As an alumnae of The University of Chicago, Helen helped to establish the North Carolina Alumni Club and also served on The University of Chicago Alumni Board of Governors. Helen is an active member of the Democratic Women of Moore County and the Emmanuel Episcopal Church. She is married and a very proud mother of her three adult children who are strong individuals working in research science and teaching.