At South Piedmont’s Aseptic Training Facility, everything is new. New building. New industry partnership opportunities. And most recently, new executive director. Kimberly Miller stepped into the role in mid-July, bringing with her decades of biotech work experience – and relationship-building skills she’ll flex to grow South Piedmont’s standing as a regional biotech leader. Here are six things to know about Dr. Miller.
She Found Career Inspiration in a Movie …
A native of Florence, South Carolina, Miller was always drawn to the sciences, and when she saw the movie “Outbreak,” a 1995 film starring Dustin Hoffman about a fictional, Ebola-like virus, Miller set her sights on working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I wanted to wear the hazmat suit,” she said. Miller interned at the CDC throughout college and continued to work there during grad school. She was assigned to the food-borne unit and specifically studied the organism shigella, a bacteria that causes intestinal illnesses, using her findings to help identify outbreaks.
And More Inspiration in a TV Show
Though she “thought she’d never leave the CDC,” Miller eventually did, choosing to put her background in biotechnology to work for the justice system. She worked as a forensic scientist and a sworn law enforcement officer for both the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. “It was my job to develop DNA profiles of suspects from biological fluids and then to testify to the science,” she said. In her law enforcement work – as she has been throughout her career – Miller was reminded of the importance of following aseptic protocols in collecting and processing evidence. “You have to avoid cross contamination,” she said. “If you don’t, that can change the course of an investigation.”
She Worked in Bioterrorism Prevention
One of Miller’s many interesting career stops was her turn as a microbiology lab bioterrorism supervisor for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, where she worked to protect our food supply from potential bad actors.
She Started at South Piedmont as an Adjunct
Miller has been working as an adjunct biology faculty member since February of this year. Since then, she has been impressed by the College, and when the Aseptic opportunity became available, she jumped. “Everyone here has always been kind. I’ve had good interactions with my students, and there is great collaboration within the biology department. It’s a great atmosphere.”
She’s a Dance Mom
Outside of work, Miller’s life can be summed up in one word: family. She’s married to Neal, and they have three daughters, Isabella, 14, Gabrielle, 12, and Gianna, 6. Her daughters participate in competitive dance, so much of her time is spent taking them to events. She also loves to bake, go to the beach, and spend time with her two dogs.
Her Goals: Contribute to Collegewide Growth while Serving the Individual Student
With the Aseptic Training Facility, South Piedmont is poised to become a regional leader in aseptic training. Currently, biotech companies must send their employees several hours away to complete aseptic training programs. Miller will work to build relationships with companies in the biotechnology industry, putting South Piedmont front of mind for their training needs. She’s also excited to educate students about the career opportunities that exist within the biotech field. “There are so many opportunities that are available to them, opportunities that will help them earn money and build a life for themselves and their families. I can’t wait to start showing our students everything they can do in biotech,” she said.
To get in touch with Miller, email kmiller2@spcc.edu.
The South Piedmont Aseptic Training Facility is a 21,000-square-foot building that will open later this year on the College’s Old Charlotte Highway campus in Monroe. A first-of-its-kind building for our region, the Aseptic Training Facility includes classrooms, labs, and simulated aseptic manufacturing spaces. The building has been made possible thanks in part to the support of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, which has donated more than $1 million in training and materials.