\nIn Miller\u2019s first 19 years at Daytona State College, he earned a stellar reputation as chair of the Department of Visual Arts and director and curator of the Southeast Museum of Photography, from 2001-2015. He was front row center for many huge occasions that led to what DSC is today, such as the building of the museum and the foundation of the museum’s exhibition legacy.
\nPhotography has always been the native Australian\u2019s passion. It isn\u2019t, however, what he started off doing.<\/p>\n
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Miller began his college education by studying nursing, which lasted a total of six years. By the first year, though, he realized that he\u2019d rather spend his time taking pictures.
\nAlthough realizing this early on, being as driven as he is, he would never have just quit something he set his mind on. Thankfully, upon graduation, he was able to use the money he made from nursing to help fund his love for photography.
\nEducated in Australia, Miller also received degrees in sculpture, photography, art history and museum studies. He says his motivation to teach came from his own fair share of good, and not-so-good teachers.
\n\u201cI has a stellar education, so I know what a difference a good education makes,\u201d Miller says, as he relates one of his best teacher-student experiences that helped shape his standards for learning to the height they\u2019re at now.
\nEarly on in his teaching career, Miller admits, his standards were too high for the reality of how beginner\u2019s learn. In the beginning, Miller\u2019s biggest weakness was his expectations that students would immediately catch on and be experts by the end of the class.
\nSo he took a step back once that mindset turned out to be purely fantasy. But remember, there is always a growth curve \u2013 everyone learns at different paces. In Miller\u2019s case, that ???? quickly became a strength when he realized the course is not about the material, but rather about his students and how much knowledge they can retain at a time. Not only was this a valuable lesson for him to learn, but for other teachers and colleagues as well.
\nMoreover, even though teaching was something Miller was overjoyed to pursue, he did have concerns. He was afraid that he wouldn\u2019t be a good enough teacher and still have enough time to be a serious photographer \u2013 both things he desperately wanted.
\nBut he discovered such concerns were common as a new teacher and it didn\u2019t affect his ambitions negatively in any way. He also soon became well-respected by both colleagues and students.
\n\u201cKevin is like the smart uncle that everyone wishes they have,\u201d former student Travis Sigman says. \u201cWe have the same exact birthday. How about that?\u201d
\nProfessor Steven Benson chimed in, \u201cTo Miller, the best part about teaching is being able to spread the love of photography and the ability to succeed.\u201d
\nStudent Rebecca Farrah quotes Miller\u2019s best-remembered piece of advice: \u201cDon\u2019t sell yourself short.\u201d
\nChief among the Senior Professor\u2019s list of least favorite things is bureaucracy. And the idea being able to successfully motivate someone who is lazy is baffling to him.
\nAs Kevin Miller nears retirement, the new reality of not having to drive to school to teach isn\u2019t necessarily odd, but it\u2019s different \u2013 a whole new routine will be in store for him. He does still enjoy teaching, though, and wishes to continue doing so when he moves to Southern California.
\nAlthough he\u2019ll miss his colleagues, the reputation he\u2019s built and his students, Miller is not reluctant to accept retirement \u2013 he is, in fact, looking forward to being able to focus more intently on his work and at his own desired pace.
\n\u201cHave more things on your to-do list everyday than you can possibly get done. That way you\u2019re always busy, and a day is never wasted,\u201d Kevin Miller advises, again passing on the wisdom he\u2019s learned throughout the years.
\nAnd never forget, he counsels, that times change and so should people.
\nPhotography, for him, started out very narrow with a limited range of technology skills and a palette of possibility. Now, photography is wide and diverse. Men aren\u2019t the only ones known for the art and all sorts of styles and cultures are now being portrayed through this popular median.
\nHe can\u2019t resist offering one last word of advice before he goes: \u201cFind your voice, and never let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Campus Newspaper Sarai Thompson Over Kevin Miller\u2019s 33 years of teaching, he\u2019s effected the lives of many and those lives have affected him as well. In Miller\u2019s first 19 years at Daytona State College, he earned a stellar reputation as chair of the Department of Visual Arts and director and Continue reading Distinguished professor bids farewell<\/span>