Arts Champion Alex Miller Retiring

Alex Miller, vice provost for ARTS NC STATE, retires July 1 after 34 years with the state, including 29 years at NC State. The Division of Academic and Student Affairs is hosting a retirement celebration for Miller 4–6 p.m. Monday, June 16, in the Carol Poole Clubhouse at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course. Coworkers, retirees and friends are welcome to attend. RSVP by email or call Christy Rain at 513-1820 if you have questions about the event.

Miller was hired in 1985 to serve as director of the University Scholars Program, a position he held for 28 years. In 1997, Miller was asked to also provide leadership for the visual and performing arts programs at NC State. In 2000, working with the directors of the six arts programs (Center Stage, Crafts Center, Dance Program, Gregg Museum, Music Department, and University Theatre) he created ARTS NC STATE to serve as an umbrella organization for arts programs.

Miller also created Friends of ARTS NC STATE, a support organization committed to raising funds and advocating for the arts programs. With the assistance of Vice Chancellor Emeritus Banks Talley, Miller recruited the group’s first advisory board.

To ensure the long-term financial success of the arts programs, Miller established the Arts Development office and worked with a team of professionals and private supporters to secure, to date, over $16 million in private funding for ARTS NC STATE.

In 1998 Miller spearheaded the creation of the annual Arts Gala, now a major highlight of the year, to celebrate the arts on our campus. In 2000, Miller created the Bowers Medal of Arts Award to recognize individuals or organizations who have provided exceptional service to the arts at NC State.

During his tenure as vice provost, Miller provided leadership to renovate and expand two historic buildings on campus through a combination of university and private funding. With the help of the supporters and the staff of ARTS NC STATE, he led the successful $16 million project to completely renovate Thompson Hall to provide state-of-the art homes for the Crafts Center and University Theatre. Miller also proposed and secured the historic Chancellor’s Residence on Hillsborough Street to serve as the site of the future home of the new Gregg Museum. Construction on the $9.1 million Gregg project is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2015.

Under Miller’s leadership, the university also created Arts Village, a living and learning residential community for students passionate about the arts.