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Remembering Theodore "Ted" K. Miller, CAS Founding President
- By: CAS Staff
- On: 09/26/2016 13:51:03
- In: Press Releases
Founding CAS editor and president, Ted Miller, passed away in August 2016. CAS remembers Ted for his many contributions to our association and the field of student affairs at large.
Theodore “Ted” K. Miller, a trailblazer in the field of student affairs and higher education, died on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at age 84. Ted was the founding president of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), a role in which he faithfully served for 10 years. As the inaugural and long-time CAS editor, Ted shepherded the first five editions of the CAS Professional Standards “Blue Book.”.jpg)
Ted influenced the field of student affairs in many ways, as he invested much of his energy and time into professional associations and endeavors to help ensure quality practice in student programs and services. In 1969, he was the founding president of the Georgia College Personnel Association. Also, Ted was the 36th president of ACPA: College Student Educators International (then known as the American College Personnel Association) in 1975-1976. Through his ACPA involvement, Ted was engaged with the Tomorrow's Higher Education (T.H.E.) Project task force, chairing it during his president-elect term. Over time, Ted also co-chaired the ACPA Task Force for Group Procedures, chaired ACPA's Continuing Education Committee (professional development), served on the APGA Accreditation Committee, represented ACPA to the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as secretary and board member, and chaired ACPA's Professional Standards Committee.
When ACPA began work on its first statement on ethics and professional standards in 1975, Ted sought recommendations from ACPA leadership for individuals interested in professional standards of preparation and practice. As ACPA president, he convened representatives of 13 professional organizations in 1975 to promote inter-association communication and collaboration.

"The founding of CAS and the nurturing of the organization through its early years was Ted Miller's crowning achievement of his career. Despite the literal definition of the word penultimate (meaning next to last), Ted might have said that this was his 'penultimate achievement,' suggesting his best effort. If establishing CAS was his next to last achievement, one wonders what this last achievement might have been," mused CAS Past President Don Creamer. "Ted published (extensively), he taught (effectively), and he mentored (lovingly). But best of all, at least to me, he was my friend."
Throughout his career, Ted was recognized for his contributions to the field. Akin to CAS, the Georgia College Personnel Association honored Ted by naming their highest professional award after him. He received the SACSA Mel Hardee Award for Outstanding Achievement, the ACPA Esther Lloyd-Jones Professional Service Award, the ACPA President's Award, the Robert H. Shaffer NASPA Award for Academic Excellence, the ACPA Contribution to Knowledge Award, and the ACPA Lifetime Achievement Award. Also, Ted was designated as an ACPA Senior Scholar and Senior Scholar Diplomate
Ted was a prolific writer and editor. Notably, he co-authored with Roger B. Winston, Jr. and Diane Cooper the Student Developmental Task and Lifestyle Assessment (SDTLA). Overall, Ted is credited with authoring, co-authoring, and editing over 30 refereed journal articles, 29 professional books, and 40 invited book chapters and reviews.
Ted's obituary is available at http://www.obittree.com/obituary/us/georgia/athens/lord--stephens-funeral-home-east/theodore-miller/2687537/. The CAS Board of Directors reflected on Ted's life at its November 2016 board meeting.
References
ACPA biography at http://www.myacpa.org/theodore-k-miller
BGSU archives at http://www2.bgsu.edu/sahp/pdfs/millert.pdf
Cooper, D.L., & Dean, L. A. (1998, April). The Past, Present, and Future of Student Affairs: A Professional Profile of Theodore K. Miller. Journal of Counseling and Development, (76)2, pp. 198-201.
BGSU archives at http://www2.bgsu.edu/sahp/pdfs/millert.pdf
Cooper, D.L., & Dean, L. A. (1998, April). The Past, Present, and Future of Student Affairs: A Professional Profile of Theodore K. Miller. Journal of Counseling and Development, (76)2, pp. 198-201.