Phillip Miller named Kermit Wagner Distinguished Professor of Animal Science

Phillip Miller
December 2, 2020

Lincoln, Neb. —One of the greatest teaching and research awards are the local and international connections Professor Phillip Miller makes with students and faculty.

Miller is a swine nutrition professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, specializing in nutritional constraints of growth, pregnancy and lactation in pigs. Recently, he has collaborated with fellow UNL researchers examining the effects of nutrition on the microbiota and gut health in nursery pigs. Despite his interest in cattle, Miller decided to explore swine after the position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln opened. Miller visited and now calls Nebraska home after falling in love with the position.

Miller’s commitment to research and teaching relate directly to Nebraska’s prime position in the swine industry. His research focusing on fundamental nutritional components in swine easily transfers to teaching students basic concepts of nutrition. Miller’s students collaborate with the swine industry, providing opportunity for research integration between producers and various commodity groups.

“Swine production is really important in Nebraska and ultimately, we have a very strong commitment to that,” Miller said.

Throughout his University of Nebraska-Lincoln career, Miller found the most fulfilling part of his job to be the relationships he has with students, faculty members, staff, and others. Positive student interactions are his number one priority. Additionally, Miller’s local and global collegial connections provide valuable research and teaching resources.

Throughout the United States, Miller has expanded his collegial network through various positions in the American Society of Animal Science and through involvement in a multi-research regional committee. These opportunities allowed Miller to present at an international level, creating additional networking connections.

Miller’s commitment to influencing students and renowned global research have merited him the Kermit Wagner Distinguished Professor of Animal Science. The award, established by the University of Nebraska Foundation in memory of Kermit Wagner, is given by the University to reward distinguished faculty.  

Miller is humbled to receive this award, as it means the colleagues he works with recognize him for accomplishments he did not recognize in himself. For Miller, the greatest thing about working in the animal science department is the collegial support.  

“That’s one of the greatest things about working in animal science -- the compilation of the faculty in our department. It’s a great department to work in and [this award] just reiterated that for me,” Miller reflects.

Over the course of his career, Miller has had great opportunities to be involved in national-level, cutting-edge research, to connect with graduate and undergraduate students, and see the phenomenal accomplishments they garner after leaving the program.

“To sum it up, I think it’s the people connection that has the biggest impact on how I’ve influenced the graduate and undergraduate students, staff and faculty and how I’ve interacted with them. I’d say that was the biggest component of this,” Miller said.

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