Dr. John W. Miller began his duties in 2005 as the 12th president of Central Connecticut State University, which was founded in 1849 and is the oldest publicly supported institution of higher education in Connecticut. The University enrollment is over 12,000 students, including over 2,500 graduate students.

Prior to coming to Connecticut, he served as the Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for six years, where he originated the pioneering study of America’s most literate cities. He has also been Dean of the College of Education at Florida State University from 1993-1999. He served as a professor and an administrator at Georgia Southern University and Wichita State University. Miller has taught students in public education from the elementary to doctoral degree levels in the United States, Costa Rica, England, and South Africa. He has lectured in many other countries, including Ireland and Sweden.

Miller’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University (1969), a master’s degree in education from Northern Illinois University (1972) and a

doctorate degree in education from Purdue University (1975).

He has received numerous national awards, including the Excellence in Diversity award from the Brothers of the Academy for his commitment to access, retention, and graduation of underrepresented students in higher education in 2005, and the Pacesetter Award from the National Academic Advisory Association as CEO of the year in 2003. His annual study of America’s Most Literate Cities has been published by USA Today, and recognized in over 100 of the largest daily newspapers and on National Public Radio.

He has presented 56 refereed papers to 16 different learned societies in the United States and internationally in countries such as France and Jordan. He has also given numerous invited addresses and served as a consultant to over 40 educational agencies in the U.S. and other countries. He has published 43 articles in national and international journals, including publications in journals such as Educational Researcher and Journal of Educational Psychology. He has also authored 10 book chapters, two major monographs disseminated by international associations, four books, and three series of electronic and print instructional materials. 

Miller has served as Principal Investigator and written 19 research and training proposals funded for a total of $4.5 million by state, federal, and private agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Education, Bell South Foundation, and Foundation for Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

He has served on boards of directors for both private corporations and public non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Victim Assistance Program, Educational Assessment Systems, Inc., Farmers and Merchants Bank, St. Coletta’s of Wisconsin for Developmentally Disabled Citizens, Jefferson Literacy Council, and The Renaissance Group.

Jack and his wife, Barbara, have three grown children: Lauren, Elizabeth, and Raymond.