I AM UAA: Kacey Miller
by Kathleen McCoy |
B.A. Elementary Education '03, Minor in Alaska Native Studies
Hometown: Dillingham, AK
Student Services Manager, UAF-Northwest Nome
Fun Fact: Has "Phil. 4:13" tattooed on her calf
UAA alumna Kacey Miller's memories and time growing up in Dillingham led her to a career in education. At an early age, Kacey was actively involved in many extracurricular and academic programs and organizations. This gave her a tremendous amount of exposure to places outside Dillingham. By the time she graduated from high school she had been to all corners of Alaska and visited Washington D.C., Hawaii and Florida.
As a sophomore, the Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Program brought Kacey to UAA's campus for the first time. "I was chosen to be my school's HOBY ambassador and it was my first time being on a college campus. From that experience I knew college was something I wanted for my future." Kacey also knew she needed to have two things when she went to college: the support of family and to be involved in a sports team.
But Kacey wasn't entirely convinced about attending UAA right then. She decided to attend Mankato State University in Minnesota. She had relatives close by and made the junior volleyball team, so it seemed like good fit for her. By the end of her sophomore year at Mankato she decided to move back to Alaska and attend UAA. "I was so much more comfortable at UAA. I knew people there and was around more of what I was accustomed to. I participated in intramural sports and loved that there were smaller class sizes; it was a supportive environment for me," she said.
Amidst her time at UAA, Kacey met and married her husband, Jared Miller, who was residing in Nome. With her husband away, it didn't take long for Kacey to decide to move and finish her studies in Nome. "The UAA College of Education was extremely supportive of me doing this. I was able to complete my student teaching at Nome Elementary School."
Although Kacey graduated without a hitch with honors from UAA, she had a young family and wasn't sure she was ready for the classroom just yet. "I was informed the local UAF campus here in Nome was hiring and I figured I'd do that temporarily until I returned to the classroom," she laughs. "It turned out being a good fit for me and I never ended up leaving."
Kacey's passion for education and helping students stems from her own background and active lifestyle in Dillingham. It's the tight-knit, small communities, she said, where people wear different hats that support student success. Many of the people in the community take on different roles, so kids develop strong relationships with them. "Kids model what they see, they often want to be like someone they are familiar with. Often they want to run a local store, be a pilot, work in the clinic or be a teacher. These were the people who also had an impact on me; it was people in my community who were educated."
Now Kacey realizes that she's come full circle. She's helping rural Alaska students find their path in life, informing them of their options to take courses in the village and encouraging them to stay in state for college. Her motive is to provide students with the knowledge she wished she had before she decided to attend college out of state. "I can easily relate to these students. I know how they're feeling about leaving their community, and I realize the role I play in helping them make that decision. If a UA employee had guided me and informed me about a university in the UA system and matched those with my interests, I would have stayed in Alaska for college all four years."
One of the main things Kacey tries to make students understand is no matter what kind or what school, getting a degree, training or a cerificate and returning to their rural community makes a significant impact. "An individual earning a degree in rural Alaska causes a ripple effect. So much more is impacted than just the individual. It increases the income for the family, ultimately affecting the family dynamic. They are now a role model and an asset within their community. This benefits our region and also our state."
After seven-and-a-half years with Northwest Campus, Kacey seems more and more enthusiastic about helping students every day. Although she's no longer a Seawolf, she explains that she often represents the University of Alaska system. "We're all on the same team, we're connected. I need to be very knowledgeable about the other schools in the UA system to share what they have to offer to be able to help others reach their goals. Filling that gap here in rural Alaska and knowing that I've helped someone better themselves is incredibly gratifying."
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