Coffee cup in hand and sporting a teal tie, Chancellor Gary Miller awaits the start of classes with anticipation and excitement. Although he and his wife Georgia Miller are a long way from their previous home in Wichita, Kan., Chancellor Miller says they are settled in at the Kenan House and have quickly grown fond of Wilmington and UNCW.

“I could never have imagined how warm the welcome would be,” said Miller. “It’s been overwhelming. People have been extremely helpful, whether they recognize us or not.”

When Miller was studying biology as an undergraduate at William and Mary, it was his aspiration to become a professor at a university. As the new Chancellor of UNCW, he has more than achieved his goal.

The Millers’ involvement with the University started at the beginning of the year during the chancellor selection process. Although Chancellor Miller said he was never confident that he would get the position, he said the initial discussion with the search committee was positive.

“I knew there were some good applicants,” said Miller. “This is a great university.”

During the chancellor selection process Miller was interviewed by members of the search committee who he said had “a lot of hard questions for me,” he said. For example, the committee asked him about strategies for growing the University, his perspective on budget issues, diversity and tolerance, and interaction with the community.

“When we saw this job advertised we really wanted to come here,” said Miller. Of all the places he has lived—California, Utah, Mississippi, Kansas, Virginia and North Carolina—Wilmington is his favorite. “Every place I’ve lived has been interesting, but we’re very fortunate to be here and we love it here,” said Miller.

Spending years in the field of higher education, Miller says one of his personal goals is to continue to be a learner, and that there are plenty of opportunities to do that at UNCW. He brings to his new post experience as a faculty member at the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State and Weber State University, a dean of the College of the Pacific, and most recently the Provost for Academic Affairs and Research at Wichita State University.

His family is also important to him, and he wants to continue to be active in the lives of his three children and two grandchildren, the second of which was born July 4, just days after he assumed the post of Chancellor. The Millers’ oldest, their only daughter, is an executive at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and lives in Fort Worth, Texas. Their oldest son is an attorney in Pennsylvania, and their youngest son lives in Baltimore, Maryland and designs video games.

Chancellor Miller acknowledges that budget constraints pose a serious challenge to the University, but he maintains a positive attitude about it. “My goal is to infuse planning with a culture of innovation,” said Miller. “It’s a matter of will and ingenuity. It’s a transition in higher education and we’re a part of it.”

Trials and tribulations aside, the perks are equally worth mentioning. “The problems aren’t much fun, but solving them is fun for me,” said Miller.

Now that campus is filling up with students after the summer lull, Miller says he is looking forward to a lively atmosphere of commotion as classes begin. “The greatest perk is being able to interact with students and faculty on campus,” he said.