J. Hillis Miller

J. Hillis Miller Sr. (August 29, 1899 – November 14, 1953) was an American university professor, education administrator and university president. Miller was a native of Virginia, and earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees before embarking on an academic career. He served as a psychology professor at the College of William & Mary and Bucknell University, the president of Keuka College, a senior administrator with the New York Department of Education, and the president of the University of Florida.

Early life and education

Hillis Miller was born in Front Royal, Virginia in 1899. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia in 1924, and married Nell Martin Critzer of Afton, Virginia in 1925. Miller later completed his master of arts in psychology from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1928, and his doctor of philosophy in counseling and administration from Columbia University in New York City in 1933. During his tenure as associate director, Miller began planning for the education of returning World War II veterans—even before the war ended. Together with John S. Allen, he implemented the Associated Colleges of Upper New York (ACUNY), a temporary college system for the State of New York to meet the higher education needs of returning veterans.

The Florida Board of Control selected Miller to be the fourth president of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida in 1947, succeeding the retiring John J. Tigert. During his time as president, student enrollment swelled with returning World War II veterans and their spouses and as a result of the educational benefits available to veterans from the G.I. Bill. Miller's administration managed the increase in the size of the student body from approximately 8,700 to over 12,000 in six years, and oversaw the transition of the formerly all-male institution into a coeducational university. to build new student residential, academic and administration buildings. The cities of Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa wanted the new medical school, too. The legislature appropriated $5 million for construction of the new medical sciences building in 1953, As part of the centennial, the university began construction of Century Tower, the iconic landmark of the Gainesville campus. He had felt unwell for several days before the Florida–Georgia football game, and decided not attend the game in Jacksonville. While watching the game on television, Miller experienced physical illness and was taken to the hospital. He died seven days later of rheumatic heart disease. On the day of his on-campus funeral service, the university canceled classes and closed all university offices, and over 10,000 people attended the funeral, including the acting governor, the governor-elect, three former governors, the state board of education and all members of the Board of Control under whom Miller had served. He was eulogized as a national education leader who greatly enhanced the University of Florida's recognition and national reputation.

In recognition of Miller's efforts as president of the University of Florida and his success in advocating, planning and funding the new medical school and other health-related colleges, the university named the new J. Hillis Miller Health Science Center in his memory in October 1956. The College of Medicine, whose planning and development was Miller's major accomplishment as president, opened in 1956 and graduated its first students in 1960. Today, the Miller Health Science Center encompasses six separate academic colleges, enrolls over 6,500 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and employs over 1,200 residents.