LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Louisville and Louisville Alumni have announced Jay Miller, dean of the College of Social Work, will receive a 2025 Wilson Wyatt Alumni Award.
The prestigious award is the highest honor bestowed by Louisville Alumni, and celebrates the remarkable accomplishments and service of UofL graduates whose work exemplifies the mission and values of the university.
“I am extremely honored and humbled by this recognition,” said Miller. “My time at the Kent School was profoundly impactful, and I am grateful for the ongoing relationships and connections I have there.”
Miller received his PhD from the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Sciences in 2013.
Miller was appointed as dean of the College of Social Work in 2019. Under his leadership, CoSW has undergone a profound transformation. In the last five years, student enrollment has grown nearly 400% and CoSW’s research portfolio has expanded 335%.
Miller’s tenure has been marked by improving workforce access to quality, innovative academic and service programming. In 2020, CoSW opened the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, a one-of-its-kind center that provides an integrated continuum of services for kinship providers. As part of the eService Initiative, CoSW started a series of virtual reality programs aimed at supporting adoptive caregivers and child welfare workers by leveraging advanced technology.
In 2022, CoSW launched a partnership with Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Martin-Gatton CAFE) and UK Cooperative Extension Service to introduce the 4H Behavioral Health Fellow Program, which is designed to address mental health challenges through summer camps. Last year, the program enrolled its second cohort of student fellows. The College has established several other student workforce preparation partnerships, including the Rural Healthcare Fellow Program with Appalachian Regional Healthcare and the School Social Work Fellowship with Fayette County Public Schools, among others.
Consistent with CoSW’s commitment to workforce, Miller announced the Investment in Ingenuity and Initiative Program (I3) in 2022. I3 provides CoSW faculty and staff with opportunities for upskilling or certification within specific skill domains critical to CoSW. I3 has expanded to include BRIGHT, which is a targeted leadership program for CoSW faculty and staff.
In early 2024, CoSW’s online MSW program became among the first in the nation to be certified for quality, marking a significant milestone for the College’s Forward, Together Strategic Plan. Last fall, Miller announced the launch of undergraduate and graduate Criminal Justice (CJ) degree programs. Through these offerings, student can earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice.
The impact of Miller’s work has been recognized regionally, nationally and internationally. In 2023, he received the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Distinguished Recent Contributions in Social Work Education Award. In 2024, he received the International Trends and Services Community Champion Award from The Links, Inc. Additionally, Miller is a past recipient of the Paul Grannis Award, Sunny Andrews Award and the Supporting the Workforce Award from the U.S. Children’s Bureau, among other recognitions.
“While at Kent I gained inspiration, knowledge, and an affirmed sense of purpose,” explained Miller. “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Alumni Association, Kent faculty and staff, and the University of Louisville for this honor.”
Miller will be recognized at the annual Wilson Wyatt Alumni Awards ceremony this fall, as part of UofL’s Homecoming week festivities on the Belknap Campus.