Don Miller honored

Keeping more than 100 students attentive during a science lecture is no easy task.

Just ask Don Miller, who does it on a weekly basis from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters’ Department of Natural Sciences.

It takes a combination of humor, quick wit and profound knowledge to keep students alert during lectures.

Miller exudes all of those qualities, and that’s why he received the University’s inaugural Collegiate Lectureship award.

“This is a terrific campus and we have pretty terrific students, so it’s really nice to deal with the students that we have,” Miller said.

Clearly, some of those students feel the same way about Miller.

“As a lecturer and lab instructor, Professor Miller is exceptional,” one nominator wrote. “Whether it’s throwing a foam brick at students (without letting us know it wasn’t real) or having students participate in experimental demonstrations, Professor Miller knows how to get a group of 100-plus students to pay attention. Without a doubt, it takes commitment and hard work to succeed in his courses, but having a professor like Don Miller is motivation in itself to work hard.”

Miller was among a long list of LEO faculty members nominated for this year’s award, but his long tenure at UM-Dearborn and teaching prowess set him apart.

“In the end, the faculty committee reviewing the nominations agreed that Don Miller’s record of teaching excellence and service to the university over the course of his 33 years on campus not only exemplifies the spirit of this award, but also represents a most appropriate model for the first in this category,” wrote Provost Kate Davy in an email to faculty and staff.

The Collegiate Lecturer Program is designed to recognize exceptional individuals and is given in recognition of LEO faculty members who illustrate excellence both in the classroom and in service to the campus community.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Miller will receive a one-time stipend of $1,000 to support teaching and professional development and will be given the honorary title of “Collegiate Lecturer.”

Miller also will be recognized at the University’s annual honors award dinner on March 27.