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Dean Mark Kornbluh Blog: A&S Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Penny Miller

This year, the College of Arts & Sciences celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Over the last 20 years, we have recognized 79 alumni and faculty whose contributions to the College, University, Commonwealth and beyond are far-reaching. Over the past few weeks, I have been highlighting each of this year’s inductees. Today, I am honored to recognize our second faculty inductee Dr. Penny Miller.

A native of Binghamton, New York, Dr. Miller earned her B.A. (1965) and M.A. (1967) in Political Science from the University of Kentucky. As a young woman, she founded the Metro Group Homes and co-chaired Lexington Jewish Women’s Federation. When her children, Jonathan and Jennifer, were nearly grown, she returned to the Department of Political Science to earn her Ph.D. in 1986. After three years teaching at Temple University, she joined the UK faculty in 1990.

A specialist in state politics, Dr. Miller wrote Kentucky Politics and Government: Do We Stand United? and co-authored with Malcolm Jewell, Political Parties and Primaries in Kentucky and The Kentucky Legislature: Two Decades of Change. Governor Jones selected her to edit The Public Papers of Governor Brereton C. Jones 1991-1995. In addition, she served on the Mayor’s Local Government Ethics Advisory Committee, chaired the state’s Commission on Women and chaired the Kentucky Long Term Policy Research Center Board. President Bill Clinton appointed her to serve for eight years on the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.

As the Department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Miller worked tirelessly to revise and improve the quality of the Department’s undergraduate curriculum, pedagogy, and advising system. She won dozens of awards, including the William E. Lyons Award for Outstanding Service, the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, the Ken Friedman Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, the College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award, and the UK Alumni Association Great Teacher Award.

 

Visit www.as.uky.edu/halloffame to view all photos and videos from the event.