Esteemed Alumna Creates Scholarship for Gerontology Students at UA Little Rock

Dr. Marilyn Miller, a professor of physical therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Marcos, California, has made a significant contribution to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to establish a scholarship for gerontology students, underscoring her commitment to advancing the field and supporting future generations of scholars.

"Dr. Miller's generous donation demonstrates her strong commitment to advancing the field of gerontology and supporting future scholars," said Thomas Clifton, interim dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services. "Her gift will greatly benefit our students, allowing them to focus on their studies and future contributions to the field. We are deeply grateful for Dr. Miller's unwavering dedication to education and her lasting impact at UA Little Rock."

Miller has donated $26,000 to UA Little Rock to establish the Marilyn Miller Endowed Scholarship for the Benefit of Students Studying Gerontology. The scholarship will be given to a full or part-time student pursuing a graduate certificate in gerontology and can be used for education-related expenses including tuition, books, fees, and room and board. Preference will be given to students who are licensed health professionals or those pursuing licensure.

Miller earned a master's degree in gerontology from UA Little Rock in 1981, and she is still grateful for the education that has influenced much of her career.

"I was the academic coordinator of clinical education and a professor of physical therapy at UCA at the time," she said. "The evening classes made it possible for me to work and complete the advanced degree. The classes were small. I am grateful for the degree that turned out to influence more than 50 percent of my career path. It opened opportunities for me in my career in whatever state I went to."

While finishing her thesis, Miller landed her first job in state government for the Executive Office of Aging for the Hawaii State Department of Health, where she reviewed what services the state provided to older adults in Hawaii. Throughout her career, she has come to recognize that the field of gerontology is becoming more important as the population of older adults is on the rise.

"At the time I received my master's degree, physical therapy was waking up to the fact that the senior population was going to account for 80 percent of the healthcare dollars spent in this country," Miller said. "Now we are taking over the world. Now that I've become my subject matter, older adults are no longer a minor subset of any population. We are a major subset of all populations who are growing, definitely in this country. This is a global situation. I hope that students will see the value in studying gerontology and how important it is to the future."

According to the World Health Organization, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over by 2030.

Miller is a physical therapist, an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties certified geriatrics clinical specialist, and has served as an elected officer in several states and the national Section on Geriatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association. She is also a published author in research journals and book chapters.

Her contributions in physical therapy education include the establishment of a physical therapy assistant program and the design of problem-based learning hybrid graduate physical therapy curriculum. She has been a reader consultant, site visitor and team leader for PTA programs for the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education, and a content team member for Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation visits.

"The gerontology program learners come from various diverse backgrounds such as nursing and health-related disciplines, geriatrics, and social work," said Dr. Jacqueline Burse, gerontology coordinator and assistant professor of social work. "I'm excited about the scholarship that will benefit our students and take away some of the financial burdens and help make their college education more affordable."

This donation is a part of the Centennial Campaign. UA Little Rock's largest fundraising campaign has the goal of raising $250 million by the university's 100-year anniversary in 2027. Learn more by visiting ualr.edu/centennial.