Featured Teacher: Bryan Miller

Bryan Miller
Part-time biology instructor
Employed four years

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

A: One of the principle things I do is try to exercise regularly. Other than that, help out at home. It’s not exactly my spare time, but I stay abreast of recent medical articles through a journal called “Journal Watch.” That’s fascinating sometimes.

Q: What made you want to teach at Washtenaw?

A: One major thing was that I was retiring from Eastern Illinois University and moving here, so I was looking for a place where I could do some things part-time. I looked at Washtenaw primarily, also Eastern Michigan, but the facilities here are marvelous for biological sciences. The staff here is the best staff I’ve encountered in 25 years.

Q: What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been to?

A: The Body Worlds, where they have prepared body specimens, was fascinating. I lived in Indianapolis for nine years and the Children’s Museum was a great place to go.

Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job?

A: To be useful and do what I can to support the staff in what’s called the Bio Core, where they do all the prep work. There, I also do some support work for the classes I teach. I just like being useful and that’s very easy and fun to do here at Washtenaw.

Q: What famous figure, living or dead, would you want to meet and why?

A: It would be fascinating to meet Charles Darwin and hear him talk about the conflict between his thoughts on evolution and his religious background.

Q: What is the most exciting experience of your life?

A: Oh goodness. I’m not sure what’s most exciting. I’ve done some professionally exciting things and some exciting things I shouldn’t talk about. One was to work for two years as an emergency medical technician back in Indiana.

Q: What advice do you give students for success in college?

A: I don’t try to give a lot of advice. Everybody’s different. I talk about things I have done, but other than that my advice is pretty basic. I don’t feel I have an special suggestions.

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: I really liked “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “Avatar” was excellent.

Q: What is your favorite meal and why?

A: I really can’t think of a true favorite because I eat everything that’s put in front of me pretty much. I like complex salads actually, a little meat and olive oil, some balsamic vinegar and all the different colored greens you can get.

Q: What is the most concerning thing you’ve seen in the news lately?

A: This upcoming presidential and then congressional elections are going to be very significant. It’s been amazing to see how the voting population has chosen it’s Democratic and Republican candidates. And now, the general election is going to be even more interesting to see how the general population votes, both in the presidential and congressional elections.

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