In a vocal career of over 25 years, Erie Mills has received critical and popular acclaim throughout the world, and has performed in the world's major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, English National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and the New York City Opera. In 1998, Mills joined the music faculty of San José State University (SJSU), and after retiring from SJSU in 2008, she has continued to maintain a private studio devoted to the vocal training of young professionals. From 2004–10, she served on the Opera America Board of Directors, the first singer ever named to the board. She served as a Center music panelist in 2010 and a music LOI panelist in 2012.