The UCF College of Arts and Humanities announces the appointment of Dr. Brian Craig Miller as professor and chair of the Department of History, effective August 8, 2024. Miller brings years of experience and a passion for teaching, research and service to the role.
Prior to joining UCF, Miller served as the Dean of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts at Mission College in Santa Clara, California, and associate professor and chair of the department history at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He earned his B.A. in History from Pennsylvania State University and an M.A. and PhD in History from the University of Mississippi.
“UCF’s history department is a leader in innovative research and interdisciplinary activity. Dr. Miller has demonstrated success in these areas and has proven himself to be an effective and forward-thinking administrator. He is an exceptional choice for this role and I look forward to watching the department continue to flourish under his leadership,” says Jeff Moore, dean of the UCF College of Arts and Humanities.
He is the author of four books and several articles, including John Bell Hood and the Fight for Civil War Memory and Empty Sleeves: Amputation in the Civil War South, which was a finalist for the Jefferson Davis Book Award from the American Civil War Museum. He has served as the editor-in-chief and book review editor for the journal Civil War History. His work has been featured in the New York Times, on C-SPAN, and in over 75 county museums across Kansas when Miller served as a lecturer in Civil War History for the Kansas Humanities Council from 2009-2015. He is currently working on a project exploring Walt Disney and Abraham Lincoln.
Miller is highly active in community outreach and advocacy for the humanities, forging partnerships with local historical organizations and other community groups. He is committed to supporting curriculum development, enhancing community partnerships, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within the department.
Notably, he was a key contributor to several equity and technology initiatives, including serving as a member of the Equity Workgroup and administrative representative for Technology and Distance Learning and contributing to professional learning and development efforts.
The former chair of the department, Dr. Peter Larson, is now serving as Associate Dean for the UCF College of Arts and Humanities. The College of Arts and Humanities would like to thank interim chair Dr. John Sacher for his invaluable contributions during this transition period.