Dr. Keith Miller entwines his legacy with Greenville Technical College, while opening doors of opportunity for students
“Clavis ad Futura . . . Keys to the Future.” Dr. Keith Miller repeats Greenville Technical College’s motto at every commencement ceremony. “Education in this case, and specifically Greenville Tech, is the key to a graduate’s future,” he explains. “I always mention it in conjunction with my favorite quote from Abraham Lincoln, which goes something like, ‘The one true thing to your success is your desire to succeed.’” One dedicated Midwesterner, channeling another.
Miller grew up on a Kansas farm, rising early to help milk 55 Holstein cows and conduct other chores across 1,500 acres of wheat, before turning to his studies. His parents didn’t hold high school degrees, but were determined Miller and his siblings would. “My parents valued education,” he shares. “My goal was always to get a higher education. My first career was in healthcare. That’s what took me to a two-year college. I went into a radiology program.”
Little did he realize those first steps at Hutchinson Community College would set him on a path to lead one of the largest public two-year colleges in South Carolina. His healthcare career grew with continued studies in imaging and a degree in biology. Miller then slowly transitioned from student to instructor, clinic to classroom, as institutions asked him to teach. He wound up earning a doctorate in adult and continuing education from Kansas State University and made his way into administration.
After more than a decade as president of two different colleges in Illinois, Miller arrived on Greenville Tech’s campus in 2008. The 65-year-old views the Education Spirit Award as being about the school’s success as much as his, and he holds the honor in very high regard. “It’s more of a comprehensive award from the community as a whole, as opposed to an individual organization,” he discloses. “It makes it mean that much more.”
“More” is the perfect adjective to describe the region’s growing reliance on the college, which now serves roughly 19,000 students a year across five campuses and three centers. “When I think about the success of Greenville Tech, I summarize it with two things,” the leader reveals. “One is the level of involvement of the college throughout the community. The other is the entrepreneurial spirit and energy that exists in Greenville. I see that same spirit on campus in our faculty, staff, and administration.” He says proof of that lies in the continuous improvements and new programs, both on and off campus.
Over the years, as industry comes calling in the Upstate, Miller and Greenville Tech have taken lead seats at the table, identifying ways to build a knowledgeable work force. The college has joined every high school in Greenville County to offer dual enrollment courses, providing a way for thousands of younger students to simultaneously earn college credits with their high school diploma. And Tech now offers more than 100 curriculum programs and a new four-year degree. “The state changed the law two years ago,” Miller says. “Currently, Greenville Tech is the only technical college out of 16 in the state that is allowed to offer a baccalaureate degree in advanced manufacturing technology.”
Miller relishes leading these initiatives in the school’s name, serving as a bridge into the area and specific places of need. “It’s a passion,” he admits. “I’d like to see us to continue to expand our programs. Greenville Tech is a community college, emphasis on community. The needs in the community drive what we do.”
And now, in his fifteenth year as president, he chuckles about staying as long as Tech’s only other president: Dr. Thomas Barton. “Oh, he served for 46 years,” Miller laughs. “I won’t beat that record! My board asked me when I started if I’d be here for that length of time. I don’t think so. The flip side is that there’s such a dynamic environment right now; it’s an exciting time to be a part of this institution. That makes for a good, long career.” Clavis ad Futura …
Spirit of a Servant
Clemson University’s James Barker. Furman University’s Elizabeth Davis. Longtime educator and advocate Xanthene Norris. Dr. Keith Miller is now connected to these leaders not only in commitment and philosophy, but through receiving the Spirit of Education Award. “It feels good,” he humbly reveals. “All of those people are certainly deserving. I’ve known all of them well and worked with them for a number of years. To be recognized among that group is very much an honor.”
Another honor is the way he cultivates relationships and sends students, faculty, and staff to serve off campus. “I’ve always felt like the only way the college can have a sense for the needs of the community is through involvement–not just me, but others,” he shares. While on the clock, Greenville Tech employees volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, and other local groups.
Miller himself has served on boards for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greenville County, Upstate Alliance South Carolina and Urban League of the Upstate. “We were put in place to serve the community, and in turn, the community supports us.”
Education Spirit Award
This award, sponsored by The Capital Corporation, recognizes an individual who has dedicated their career to the betterment of youth and the educational experience for the Upstate.
Unlocking Dr. Miller
Miller is married with three children and four grandchildren. All live in the area and one daughter is in education in Spartanburg County.
Among his degrees, Miller holds a specialty certification from the University of Virginia Medical Center in Radiologic Special Procedures that include angiography and computer axial tomography.
One of his favorite projects is Greenville Tech’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI), which opened in 2016. The 100,000-square-foot facility operates adjacent to CU-ICAR.
Miller has served as chairman of the board for the American Association of Community Colleges, which is the leading advocacy organization for 1,200 two-year colleges in the US, serving more than 13 million students.
Here’s a look at the other 2023 Charitable Giving Awards recipients.
