Show-Me State Times

University of Missouri President Mun Choi, along with Commerce Bank representatives Steve Sowers and Sarah Dubbert, awarded the 2025 William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence to Dennis K. Miller. An associate professor at Mizzou’s College of Arts and Science, Miller holds several leadership roles, including associate chair for curriculum and director of both graduate and undergraduate studies in the Department of Psychological Sciences.

The Kemper Fellowship, including a $15,000 stipend, is given annually to five distinguished teachers at the University of Missouri. Dean of the College of Arts and Science, Cooper Drury, participated in honoring Miller with this recognition.

The Kemper Fellowships were initiated in 1991, supported by a $500,000 gift. They honor William T. Kemper, a notable 1926 University of Missouri graduate and civic leader in Kansas City, whose career in banking spanned several decades. Commerce Bank is responsible for managing the trust fund supporting these fellowships.

Miller has influenced over 8,000 students in the past five years alone with his engaging introductory psychology courses. Former student Bradley Cook praised Miller’s teaching in a nomination letter, emphasizing how Miller teaches more than psychology—he fosters critical thinking and encourages students to challenge themselves.

Miller’s teaching philosophy emphasizes curiosity, growth, and psychological science as tools for improvement. According to Debora Bell, professor and chair of the Department of Psychological Sciences, Miller has significantly increased student interest in psychology, positively impacting both majors and non-majors.

Throughout his career, Miller has received various awards and expressions of gratitude from students. Beyond the classroom, he offers personal support to first-year students, aiding in their transition to college life. Bell highlighted these efforts in her nomination letter.

Despite large class sizes, Miller makes a concerted effort to know his students personally, as recalled by Cook who recounted Miller’s personal interactions and memory of students' details. Furthermore, Miller mentors PsiChi and the Psychology Club, and reviews for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowships Program.

Denis McCarthy, professor of psychological sciences, noted Miller’s significant contributions both in teaching and in students’ intellectual and professional growth.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Miller holds a master’s and a doctoral degree from Texas A&M University.