Dr. Gary L. Miller

Dr. Gary L. Miller

Dr. Gary L. Miller served as the 18th president of The University of Akron from Oct. 1, 2019, to May 15, 2024. Before arriving at UA, he served as chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. During his time as UA president, Miller led a reorganization of the University, deepened ties to the Akron, Summit County and Northeast Ohio communities, highlighted the University’s arts programs and introduced new opportunities for students to earn degrees. Miller also worked to reduce University debt, stabilize enrollment and provide leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Highlights

2019

• Dr. Gary L. Miller was appointed the 18th president of The University of Akron and assumed the position on Oct. 1. At the time of his hiring, Miller was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

2020

• The University was reorganized into four colleges and the School of Law as part of the Redesigning UA plan to reduce overhead and enhance the student and faculty experience and academic/scholarly excellence.
• UA marked its 150th anniversary. The sesquicentennial celebrations included the production of a book and an online docuseries, unique classes for students, banners and signs that adorned campus, and a champagne toast with thousands of alumni around the world that was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The University added to its already robust of fully online degree offerings with the announcement of 11 fully online programs.
• As the COVID-19 pandemic raged around the world, the University sought to keep its community members safe with transitions to virtual instruction and work, the creation of immunization and masking policies, shifts in campus protocols and changes to admissions and grading to support current and incoming students.

2021

• UA announced the AkronArts initiative, which aspires to present Akron as a national model of creativity, expression, authenticity, diversity and collaboration.
• The Center for Intelligence and Security Studies, was launched in the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. The Center is the first of its kind in Ohio.
• The Timken Foundation gifts UA $3 million to support the Timken Center for Precision Manufacturing, a research center for UA faculty and students to develop advanced methods for process technologies.

2022

• UA’s polymer science and plastic engineering program was named the top university program in the world according to Edurank, a global ranking site. UA also announced a new Bachelor of Science degree in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. UA is the first public university in Ohio to offer this program.
• The University’s esports program was ranked second in the country, according to DailyGame, an international online magazine covering video game sports and news.
• The Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology at The University of Akron received one of the largest gifts in its history, a donation of more than $5.9 million. The gift came from the estate of Dr. R. Allen Gardner, who along with his wife, Dr. Beatrix Tugendhut Gardner, gained international attention for their research and work teaching American Sign Language to a chimpanzee named Washoe.
• UA’s vision to strengthen its commitment to the development of the arts within the academic community and through outreach to the greater Akron community received an boost with a $20 million commitment from the Knight Foundation. The funding was slated to support the University’s project to transform the interior of the University’s Polsky Building into a downtown arts and academic destination.

2023

• An economic impact study found that UA added $3 billion in income to the economy of a six-county region during Fiscal Year 2021-22.
• UA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall with events that featured award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth and the Akron Symphony Orchestra.
• The Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, in which UA is a partner, was recognized by President Joe Biden as one of 31 inaugural tech hubs across the nation as part of the Investing in America initiative. The tech hub was also the recipient of a Strategy Development Grant – the only awardee of a hub designation or strategy development award in the State of Ohio.

2024

• UA and the renowned Joffrey Ballet School of New York City announced an exclusive academic partnership to offers aspiring dancers the opportunity to enroll in the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program for dance training while simultaneously pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Dance at UA.
• The Credit for Prior Learning initiative, an enhanced pathway to earn a college degree quicker and with less cost, was introduced. Through the program, adult learners can gain university credit for prior learning and professional work experience.
• The Zips women’s swimming and diving team and men’s outdoor track and field team each won a 10th Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship. The men’s basketball team won its second MAC title in three years, beating Kent State in the conference championship game both times to advance to the NCAA tournament.
• Akron Children’s Hospital opened a comprehensive sports health facility on the UA campus to serve the University’s student-athletes as well as members of the UA community and the general public.
• The establishment of UA’s Center for Structured Literacy, based in the LeBron James Family Foundation School of Education, was announced. The Center’s mission will be to translate scientific research on reading instruction, intervention and dyslexia for educators.