Dr. George E. Miller III was named the third president of Martin University this week.
John Bartlett, chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, said, “The search committee took its time to get it right. Dr. Miller’s experience in academia with fundraising for research and programs and his business acumen is in-line with the new strategic plan. The Board of Trustees is truly excited with the selection of Dr. George Miller.”
Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Delaware State University, his master’s degree in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and his doctorate in physical chemistry from Howard University.
Miller has served as vice president for academic affairs and provost at several universities including Johnson C. Smith and Bowie State universities, and most recently as vice president for academic affairs and presidential professor of chemistry at Claflin University.
Miller was at Norfolk State University (NSU) for more than 11 years, where he rapidly rose through the professional ranks to the position of associate vice president for academic affairs. In this role, he was responsible for the founding of the Center for Materials Research and bringing a great deal of public and private funding to the university.
Prior to his academic career, he spent almost five years at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as an astrophysicist in the planetary atmosphere division, but his desire to teach led him to Jackson State University, in Jackson, Miss., where he began his academic career. From there, he went to Howard University in Washington, D.C.
He has received numerous awards for his accomplishments, including Alumni of the Year from Delaware State University and the Giants in Science award from the Quality Education for Minorities (QEM).
He has been married to his wife Ingrid for more than 30 years. They have two sons, Sean Gregory, a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, and Simeon Geoffry, a student at Claflin University.
Miller succeeds second President Dr. Algeania Freeman, and university founder and President Emeritus Rev. Boniface Hardin.
The past year, the university’s acting president has been Dr. Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow.
“We are very grateful to Dr. Westerhaus-Renfrow for her dedicated guidance and perspective over the past several months during the search process. She willingly stepped in to become our acting president and was integral to our university’s success in achieving record enrollment and in working on many university-hosted Super Bowl events,” said university board chairman Bartlett.
