Dr. Patricia L. Rogers, dean of Bemidji State University’s College of Health Sciences and Human Ecology and the School of Graduate Studies, announces that Joan Miller has been named director of the School of Graduate Studies.

Miller has been a fixture at Bemidji State for more than 25 years, having served as office administrative specialist and administrative assistant for the School of Graduate Studies since 1991. She has monitored the school’s 34 graduate assistants across the university; interpreted policies and procedures for the school and for the university’s human subjects review board; and overseen recruitment, admission and retention for BSU’s graduate students.

She also has held office manager positions for the Center for Extended Learning and Department of Professional Education during her career at BSU.

Miller has a bachelor’s degree in office administration from Bemidji State University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from St. Cloud State University.

“The work that Joan has done over the years has been phenomenal,” Rogers said. “She is the graduate school at Bemidji State University. Having her in this expanded administrative role will give her more visibility throughout the state as the leader of our graduate program.”

Miller hopes to use her new position to help solidify the importance of graduate education at Bemidji State and to set the groundwork for expanding the program’s offerings.

“I am excited about the possibilities for where graduate studies is headed,” Miller said. “I hope to work with different areas on campus as well as in the system to expand our offerings in certificates and graduate programs through collaborative efforts.”

Her duties as director of the School of Graduate Studies began in late February.