Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
President of Virginia Wesleyan University
Dr. Scott D. Miller is President of Virginia Wesleyan University, Coastal Virginia's premier university of the liberal arts and sciences located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Respected as one of the most entrepreneurial higher education executives in America, Dr. Miller is in his 32nd year as a college president. Dr. Miller has dedicated his career to the opportunities available through education. He especially values the small, classical, liberal arts college environment that offers students personalized pathways to life and career success.
Previously, he was President of Bethany College (2007-2015), Wesley College (1997-2007), and Lincoln Memorial University (1991-97). At LMU, he was just 31 years old at the time of appointment, the youngest college president in the nation. His four presidencies and 32 years of service as a CEO are rare for higher education leaders. According to the American Council on Education “American College Presidents Study,” just 1.1 percent of leaders were on their fourth presidencies in the most recent year of the survey. More than 98 percent of respondents had held fewer presidencies and less than one percent have served at least 32 years.
He has authored or edited 18 books and over 200 professional articles. For many years was a regular columnist for College Planning and Management, HuffPost, Enrollment Manager, and The Virginian-Pilot. Since 2016, he has served as executive editor of “President to President,” a national thought series for college and university presidents internationally.
Dr. Miller earned his B.A. in communications from West Virginia Wesleyan College, M.A. in educational administration from the University of Dayton, Ed.S. in higher education administration from Vanderbilt University, and Ph.D. in higher education administration from The Union Institute & University.
A lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, Dr. Miller has served as president and chair of the Board of Directors of the North American Association of Methodist Colleges and Universities (NAAMSCU), president and chair of the Board of Directors of the Council of Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church – Disciples of Christ (CCUCC), and was chair of the Association of Educational Institutions of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities (IAMSCU).
He is chair of the Board of Directors of Washington, D.C.-based Academic Search, Inc. and serves as a consultant to college presidents and boards nationwide