On Jan. 7, the Evening Campus faculty honored David Miller, the longest-serving active Columbia College adjunct faculty member, who is retiring.
At the event, Miller commented that he was passionate about teaching and got great satisfaction when students were able to learn new concepts and ideas.
Miller taught his first course at Columbia College for the Evening Campus 36 years ago in the spring of 1977. In addition to teaching at the main campus, he also has taught for the Jefferson City, Moberly and St. Louis campuses. During this last session, Miller taught his last Business Capstone class.
In August, Miller spoke about his experiences with Columbia College at the 40th anniversary of the Adult Higher Education Division celebration.
He remembers teaching a course on probation and parole on the third floor of Dorsey Hall, but he also remembers teaching a course at Jefferson City in a church’s classroom where smoking cigarettes was still allowed. Miller then moved to St. Louis and began teaching at the campus there. “Everywhere I went, there was Columbia College,” he said.
Miller is currently the chaplain at the Boonville Valley Hope Treatment Center. As a result, many people know him as “Deacon Dave.”
He previously served as the superintendent of the Boonville Correctional Center. Miller received his MBA from St. Louis University and his bachelor’s degree from Central Methodist University.
“He is a man of honor and integrity,” said Dr. David Humphrey, director of the Evening Campus.
