Dr. Sierra Miller is an assistant professor of biology for the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences at West Texas A&M University within the department of Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences.
Miller, being an alum of the University’s biology program, knows what it is like to go through the same steps her students are now. She uses that knowledge to bridge the gap and connect with her students in beneficial ways.
“I’m actually from Canyon, born and raised,” Miller said. “And in my senior year of high school, I actually got to do an internship here at WT in Dr. Khan’s lab in the chemistry department. He was growing cells at that point, so doing some cell culture. And the idea that I could grow cells in a dish and watch them and measure what they were doing, reinforced my sense of awe. But also, that was my first big introduction to research and what being a professor looked like. But I’ve always known that I was going to end up in science.”
Miller, having now seen the faculty side of things, has a new perspective.
“It’s actually a lot of fun being on the faculty side after having been a student here,” Miller said. “Now I’ve seen both sides, and the department here is fantastic. All the professors are so friendly and so invested in their research, but also each other and the students: it’s a really great place to work. I’ve been at some other places, but there’s a real sense of community here that I have not found elsewhere.”
Though this is Miller’s first term on faculty at the school, there are plenty of classes she wants and plans to teach.
“Right now I’m teaching biology 1406, which is basic and contemporary biology,” Miller said. “In the spring, I’ll be teaching 1406 again, but I’ll also be teaching 1407, which is basic in contemporary biology. And the plan right now is for me to bring back an embryology course, because WT had one, but that professor retired, so it’s been a couple years since that’s been offered. And then in the future, I’m hoping to get into some advanced nutrition, human pathophysiology classes. That would be for undergrads and Master’s students.”
Miller described the importance of connection through her teaching.
“I really like trying to build in interactive time, so that relationships are being formed in the classroom too, because we’re very social creatures,” Miller said. “The things that actually stick in our brains the best are when we’ve assigned some sort of like meaning to them.”
Alongside all of her teaching and research, Miller is also plugged into organizations on campus.
“I’m the Faculty Director for the joint admission, MediCal program, which is a state of Texas program for economically disadvantaged students who want to go to med school,” Miller said. “So it provides a scholarship for their undergrad and for med school, and if they meet all the requirements, they’re guaranteed admission to a Texas Medical School. And I’m also the faculty advisor for the Pre-Health Care club here on campus. And so that’s for all of the pre-med, pre-dental, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, basically any sort of pre-healthcare student.”
Miller offered some advice for students who may be considering or entering the program.
“Get to know your professors, not just me, obviously, but like other professors, because a lot of students coming into biology or some sort of pre-professional major are headed to graduate school or professional school, and you have to get letters of evaluation. You need to have professors who actually know you,” Miller said. “Also, professors are really well connected, and so for me, knowing my professors in undergrad is actually what got me my first job before I went to grad school. And I think that another piece of advice is being very open. Like, know what you want to do, but also be open to what feels like rabbit trails.”
