Grateful Alumnus Endows Scholarship Honoring Professor of Economics Richard A. Miller

November 30, 2005

An anonymous alumnus has made a substantial gift to Wesleyan to endow a University Scholarship in honor of Professor Richard Miller, whom he praised as “a great teacher and a great person, who had a tremendous impact on my life and career.”

As a former student of Professor Miller, the donor remembers not only the professor’s knowledge of his subject and his enthusiasm for passing that on to his students, but also, his keen interest in the students as individuals. That interest extended far beyond the classroom walls.

“If you’re lucky enough to go to college,” the donor said, “once you’re there, what really makes the difference is if you can find one or two terrific professors who can change your experience. Dick Miller was one of those. He took a great personal interest in his students’ mental well-being, their physical well-being, their life on campus, and what they were doing after college.”

Professor Miller was surprised and delighted to learn of the scholarship. “I am overwhelmed by this unexpected honor, and most grateful to the donor for bestowing it on me,” he said.

In his 45-year career at Wesleyan, Professor Miller has taught introductory, industrial, and antitrust economics; corporate finance; microeconomic theory; and business ethics and is currently the Woodhouse/Sysco Professor of Economics. He has also held visiting positions at MIT, Yale, the University of California, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the University of Adelaide in Australia, and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. Professor Miller has researched and lectured on a host of topics including corporate mergers, profit rates and market concentration, gender discrimination in insurance, and the corporate scandals affecting Enron,Tyco, WorldCom, and others.

“Professor Miller continues the deep tradition that has made Wesleyan such a special place,” the scholarship benefactor said. “Honoring him with a scholarship is a very simple way of thanking a very special person for a lifetime of commitment to this institution, its students, and its teachers.”