Theresa Miller Named Director of Pitt's Institute of Politics

PITTSBURGH-Theresa Miller, deputy director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics (IOP) since 1992, has been appointed director of the institute, Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg announced recently.

"Few people have cared about the University of Pittsburgh's Institute of Politics as deeply as Terry Miller," said Nordenberg. "I have worked with Terry on a wide range of matters for the last 13 years. I have long considered her to be a particularly capable leader and a superb human being. She has committed her life to improving the lives of others, and we are fortunate that she will guide the Institute of Politics in setting an agenda for and helping to improve the future of our region."

As the institute's deputy director, Miller has been responsible for creating high-quality and innovative continuing education programs for elected officials, foundation executives, and community and civic leaders on critical public policy issues that affect not only the region but also the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The University created the IOP in 1987 to serve the community and region as a partner in developing enlightened public policy that promotes the vitality of Western Pennsylvania to benefit individuals, institutions, and businesses. The institute delivers information about issues affecting the region to elected officials, community leaders, and the public, providing a neutral forum where diverse viewpoints are discussed, digested, enriched, and applied.

In addition to her work with the institute, Miller serves as a consultant to the Beech Group on community development, The Pittsburgh Foundation and its GAPS Initiative, Carlow University Institute for Justice and Social Responsibility, YWCA Center for Race Relations, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs. She also has volunteered her services to Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, Urban Youth Action, and Penn Free, a housing assistance program for low-income Americans.

Before joining IOP, Miller cofounded and served as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery House (P.O.W.E.R.), one of the nation's most effective drug and alcohol treatment programs for women. The program has benefited more than 4,000 women and their families. In 1998, President William J. Clinton sent a letter commending Miller for her work.

Miller was named the Legislative Office for Research Liaison Faculty Associate in 2005. Her other awards and honors include the 2004 University of Pittsburgh Alumnae Council honoree for Strong, Smart, Successful: Women in the 21st Century; League of Women Voters Good Government Award to the Institute of Politics staff in 2003; League of Women Voters Good Government Award in 2001 for consulting work with The Pittsburgh Foundation; YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh's Racial Justice Award in 2001; and United Way and J. C. Penney Golden Rule Award, for which P.O.W.E.R. received $10,000 in 1995.

A presenter at numerous conferences, Miller was a keynote speaker at the YWCA's Center for Race Relations and Anti-Racism Training's Sister-to-Sister Conference.

A member of the National Association of Social Workers, Miller received the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Arts degrees in social work from Pitt in 1990 and 1992, respectively. Since then, she has served as an adjunct faculty member for the University's School of Social Work and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

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9/15/05/tmw