Nancy S. Miller
Dean for Social Sciences

Hope College

Four Year Institution Category

Combining what to most would seem two full time careers, Nancy Miller is remarkable for contributions to both her institution and her community.  In addition, her mentorship of women has been notable even as she has personally filled many a non-traditional role.  

Dr. Miller has been a member of the Hope College faculty since 1968, serving in both the English and Education Departments and, since 1985, as Dean for the Social Sciences.  She served as Interim Provost during 2001-02 and as a faculty representative to the Board of Trustees,  chaired the Hope committee that developed the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication which opened in 2005 and in 1995 delivered the Baccalaureate sermon.  She is on the national board of Bread for the World and is a member and officer of the Board of Trustees for Western Theological Seminary.

For more than 30 years, Nancy and her husband Phil have coordinated a Christmas project for Bethany Christian Services, providing gifts for more than 400 foster children.  She also has been involved since its inception with “Breakfast with Baby,” an outreach program for young, at-risk moms and their infants.  Dr. Miller has served three terms on the Board of Education of the Holland Christian Schools and as an officer of that board,  been elected several times as an elder at Christ Memorial Reformed Church and has served as  an at-large representative to its governing board, the General Synod Council.

Nancy (with Phil) received the “Family Award” from the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area in 2001 and was Outstanding Volunteer of the West Michigan Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2004.  In 2007 she received the third annual Lakeshore ATHENA Award. 

A 1962 Hope graduate, she holds a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate from Michigan State University.  Prior to joining the Hope faculty she taught at the elementary and junior-high level in the Wyoming (MI) Public Schools. She and Phil have three adult children, Christopher, Derek, and Mindy and two grandchildren.

Dr. James Bultman, President of Hope College, has said proudly,  “…she is extremely talented, unbelievably productive, unwaveringly committed and genuinely supportive of things that are good, right and just.”   High and well deserved praise.