Dr. Jack Miller and wife Verna Miller
Who: Dr. Jack and Verna (Pepeyla) Miller
Occupation:
Jack was a faculty member in TRU’s School of Education from 2000 – 2014 (retired), Verna was most recently Director of Tmixw Research – an Indigenous Research Group (retired).
Both served in the military before entering the academic field.
Bio:
Verna (Pepeyla) Miller is a member of the Nlakapamux homelands within the Interior Salish Tribal area of British Columbia. She competed her MEd from TRU in 2013. She was the director of Tmixw Research – an Indigenous research group consisting of ethnobiological interests, water rights, title and rights, cultural/sacred landscapes and archaeology. In 2004 she was appointed as Project Facilitator for the Nlakapamux Health and Healing Society to provide mental and spiritual counselling for victims of the residential schools and subsequent Settlement Agreement.
Dr. Jack Miller taught in the TRU School of Education from 2000 – 2014 in both the Bachelor of Education and Master of Education programs.
Jack was a long-time member of the TRU Senate, including a term as Vice-Chair. He was also a member and Vice-Chair of both the Budget Committee of Senate and the Academic Planning and Priorities Committee. In 2005, he started the TRU cross-country running team, which eventually became a varsity sport. Even in his retirement, he continues to coach the Wolf Pack cross-country and indoor track teams, both of which are now in CIS competition.
For his dedicated service to TRU, Jack was awarded Professor Emeritus status in July, 2014.
Now both retired, the couple hopes to do more travelling, including “snowbirding” to Arizona in the winter months.
Connection to TRU?
Jack was a professor and cross country running coach for over a decade at TRU, while Verna is a former member of the Board of Governors as well as a M.Ed. graduate (2013) and guest lecturer on First Nations issues.
What made you decide to give back to TRU?
We decided to “give back” basically because we can.
Our attachment to TRU is strong and we believe in members of the community supporting TRU. We are both proud of our affiliation with TRU over the years and we would like to see it continue to grow and produce productive members of the community.
Why is giving back important to you?
Giving back is important to both of us because we feel strongly about supporting students and helping to ensure student success.
