Dr. F. Milton Miller leaves distance education and online learning career legacy

Sept. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- NORCROSS, Georgia – September 1, 2010 – Ashworth College, a leading provider of accredited, online education programs, announced the retirement of Dr. F. Milton Miller, Vice President for Ashworth College (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu) and Ashworth High School. Dr. Miller’s career in education has spanned four decades, with the past 20 years at Ashworth.

Dr. Miller’s career in higher education began in 1966, where he later became full professor and department coordinator of industrial education at his alma mater, University of Missouri-Columbia. For nearly 20 years, he provided leadership to the department and successfully managed a program that was ranked among the top three graduate programs in the United States. During this time, he received both his Master’s and Doctorate degrees.

After leaving the University of Missouri, Dr. Miller began the next phase of his career as a consultant, lending his industry expertise to a variety of education and training programs. It was during this time, he started working in distance education.

"Milt’s career-long dedication to higher education has had a profound effect on the growth of the industry,” said Gary Keisling, Ashworth Chairman and CEO. “Ashworth has been the beneficiary of his many contributions and he has helped it to become the institution it is today.”

As Ashworth’s Chief Education Officer, Dr. Miller introduced a flexible learning model that allowed students to study, learn and achieve their goals anytime and anywhere. His vision, leadership and innovation helped launch both the Ashworth High School and Ashworth College brands.

Throughout his career, Dr. Miller’s many contributions have been recognized by numerous organizations, including: Who’s Who in the Midwest (1985), Phi Delta Kappa (75 Young Education Leaders in America 1981) and three-time Outstanding Young Men of America honoree (1973, 1977 and 1979).

Leaving an educational legacy

For more than 20 years, Dr. Miller has provided expertise and leadership to the Distance Education and Training Council by helping to elevate the national accrediting body for distance education institutions and by taking the private school distance education movement to new heights of public acceptance and academic respect.

“Milton has worked quietly, unerringly and without fanfare to improve the way the DETC community creates first rate learning programs,” said Michael Lambert, Executive Director of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). “His ceaseless quest for efficiency and his relentless search for excellence at a reasonable price helped shape the way all DETC educators teach and learn in the 21st Century.”

“It has been one of the singularly wonderful privileges of my career to have worked alongside Milton. He has been a role model, teacher, and a true friend to a generation of DETC leaders. I count myself lucky to have been one of many beneficiaries of this iconic American Educator’s profound wisdom.”  

Dr. Miller’s contributions were recognized by the DETC when he was presented with the Distinguished Recognition Award 1995.

Dr. Miller honored with Flame of Excellence Award

In the presence of nearly 1,100 graduates, faculty and guests, Dr. F. Milton Miller was honored for 20 years of service to Ashworth during the online college’s graduation ceremony on August 7, 2010.

He was presented with the institution’s first Flame of Excellence award as Keisling acknowledged his contributions toward “the education of more than 2 million Ashworth students from more than 150 different countries.” Dr. Miller’s wife and daughters were in attendance.

The award was designed by renowned artist and Atlanta resident Hans Godo Frabel and bears the inscription “Friend. Leader. Educator of Millions.”

“When I started, we had four career courses which we have grown to nearly 500 across all of our diploma, degree and certificate programs,” Dr. Miller said. “I believe that Ashworth as a company is in a position to go to the next level and accomplish great things.”

“I have enjoyed the past twenty years and have truly been blessed to have worked with great employees who have worked diligently to develop and support our products,” he added. “It’s been exciting to observe many of them grow professionally -- many beyond what I think they felt possible.”

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About Ashworth College

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth College, a leader in online education, offers students worldwide more than 100 online college degrees, online certificate programs, online career training and online high school diplomas. Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. For more information, visit http://www.ashworthcollege.edu.

Ashworth is a Sterling Partners portfolio company. Sterling, a private equity firm with a 25-year history of generating superior returns invests in industries with positive, long-term trends and provides ongoing support with a diverse and balanced team of industry veterans, operators, investors, strategy experts, and human capital professionals. For more information, please visit www.sterlingpartners.com.