Miller ready for new role as VP for instruction at LCC

Fueled by a longstanding passion to help improve lives, Dianna L. Miller, Ph.D., hopes to make a bigger impact in the lives of college students in her new role as the vice president for instruction at Laredo Community College.

A veteran nursing educator and college administrator with 18 years of service at LCC, Miller emerged as the top candidate for the job after the college conducted an extensive national search to fill the VPI position.

"Laredo Community College is very pleased to have Dr. Miller assume the role of vice president for instruction," LCC President Juan L. Maldonado said. "She has served on an interim basis this fall semester, and she has proven she is well organized, very professional and task oriented. She exhibits the qualities that will lead to the continued success of the college's Instructional Division."

He added, "Of four candidates who initially applied for the position, Dr. Miller was the sole candidate to advance to a formal interview, and the search committee was unanimous in "

Miller, who possesses a wealth of experience as a nursing practitioner, educator, and administrator, said that she is honored by the opportunity to continue serving LCC in her new capacity.

"Health care and specifically nursing has been my passion since I was young," Miller said. "As I moved into nursing education I realized I was making a difference in the lives of others on a larger scale. In nursing practice, I directly influenced the lives of my clients whose care I was responsible for. In nursing education, I could affect many students who in turn affected the lives of their clients.

"All of the nursing and administration experiences have provided me the foundation to pursue the VPI position. My motivation for pursuing this position was based on recognizing I had developed a specific skill set which consists of education and experience, and I felt that I could make a larger contribution to Laredo Community College by serving in this role."

As the vice president for instruction, Miller said she will strive to provide effective leadership by increasing communication and by being a transparent leader. She hopes to meet the college's challenges of increasing student enrollments through creative restructuring of course offerings, and addressing decreasing state budgets with minimal detrimental impact to the college's mission and goals.

"As the vice president for instruction, I need to focus on the best direction and decisions for the institution, while balancing the needs of those who work at the college and the students who attend it. The VPI must provide leadership and represent LCC in the local community, as well as on a larger state and national perspective," Miller said.

Miller has served a notable tenure at LCC, including 13 years as a faculty member for the vocational and associate degree nursing programs, six years as the chair for the Associate Degree Nursing Department and seven years as the Dean of Health Sciences, which included the task of being directly responsible for the success of the college’s nursing programs. Most recently, she has served as the Interim Vice President for Instruction.

"I am proud to be part of the LCC family and look forward to many more years," Miller said. "LCC has quality people who care about providing the best educational experiences for students in various settings. The college is intensely student success oriented, with people who care about each other and are willing to go above and beyond their job descriptions to assist others."

Miller holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership/Curriculum and Instruction, which she earned in 2009 from the University of Phoenix.

She also holds Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing.