UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For Paul Miller, the outdoors has always been more than a pastime. It has been a lifelong passion shaped by memories of hiking and camping trips, lake vacations and simple walks in the woods. Now, through a six-figure pledge, Paul and his wife, Jane, are turning that passion into opportunity for the next generation.
The Paul and Jane Miller Undergraduate Research Fund will support undergraduate research in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Funds will be available for research projects conducted by students majoring in wildlife and fisheries science or any student doing a research project with a wildlife and fisheries science faculty member, and may also cover research costs, travel, conference attendance and professional development opportunities.
With the goal of seeing their philanthropy in action, the Millers have also committed to a five-year, $25,000 pledge to early activate their research endowment.
“Paul and Jane Miller’s gift will allow the department to increase the number of opportunities for our students to learn the scientific method while studying real-world issues in wildlife and fisheries science and management,” said Carrie Laboski, head of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. “Gaining hands-on research experience is a great complement to our courses, increasing students’ ability to solve problems and work effectively in teams; skills needed in any job.”
A 1980 Penn State graduate in electrical engineering, Paul built a career spanning aerospace, telecommunications and executive leadership. Jane, a 1983 Lafayette College graduate in mathematics with a master’s degree in computer science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, spent the majority of her career teaching.
While the chairman of Remington, Paul became involved with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, a nonprofit where he has served as a board member, vice chairman and chairman. The organization focuses on advancing policies that safeguard hunting, fishing and the future of conservation.
As an avid outdoorsman, the organization was a natural fit for Paul, but he wondered what else he could do to make an impact.
“I wondered how I could merge my love of the outdoors and Penn State together,” Paul said. “The College of Agricultural Sciences has an excellent reputation, and the wildlife and fisheries program is great with a lot of research looking at habitat, game and non-game animals.”
Supporting undergraduate research was compelling for Paul because of its transformative impact, helping students gain technical knowledge and better prepare for careers in conservation.
“Undergraduate research is the type of experience that changes your education," he said. "It allows you to practice what you’re learning without having to wait for an internship or job experience. I also see this fund as an opportunity to help the college recruit more students interested in the fields of wildlife and fisheries science and conservation and help them gain a better understanding of what being a professional in those fields would be like.”
Just as his interest in outdoor pursuits began in childhood, so did his understanding of the importance of investing in what matters most.
“I think we should want to leave the world a better place than when we arrived,” Paul said. “When my wife and I were considering our philanthropic plans, we identified a few things that were really important to us to ensure we could put enough money to each priority to make a difference.”
For Paul, making sure there are people who have the knowledge and skills to protect and conserve our environment is one of those priorities.
“We have an obligation to manage our existing wild spaces, create more of those spaces and support proper management of species with fins, feathers or fur," he said. "I see this gift as a way to help ensure good stewardship of our environment and that our ecosystems are managed for the betterment of all.”
Gifts like the Millers advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.