BOONE—Dr. Geri Miller has received the 2010 N.C. Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Studies’ Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her exemplary leadership, dedication, and commitment to service and outstanding academic excellence in the addiction professional fields in North Carolina.

Miller is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling in Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education.

The N.C. Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Studies (NCFADS) is a private non-profit corporation with the support and encouragement of the N.C. Department of Human Resources, the Alcoholism Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) and the Association of Drug Abuse Prevention (ADAP). It provides continuing education opportunities for the state’s  substance abuse professionals and serves as a liaison with Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) and other organizations in the state.

Miller came to Appalachian in 1992. She was on the faculty at North Dakota State University prior to coming to Appalachian.

Miller teaches master’s level courses on addiction counseling, including substance abuse issues in family systems, the addictive process, counseling the addicted person, and current issues in addictions . She also has been a presenter at and the coordinator of the annual Al Greene Addictions Institute hosted on campus. The weeklong institute provides students the opportunity   to learn more about addictions outside the classroom setting and hear from professionals in the field of addictions counseling. Professionals at the institute can obtain continuing education credits and have the opportunity to meet and mentor students.

Miller has worked as the lead disaster mental health service worker with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, and was twice (for two weeks each time) part of a team that provided counseling in New York City following 9/11. She trained local mental health workers to respond to needs in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. As lead disaster mental health worker, she also assisted in expanding the number of the local mental health service volunteers.

Miller received a Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Watauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross for her work providing mental health services to disaster victims.

Miller has written textbooks with Wiley Press that have been used in counseling programs across the country including “Learning the language of addiction counseling,” now in its third edition and “Incorporating spirituality in counseling and psychotherapy: Theory and technique.” She also has written book chapters and articles related to women and spirituality, cross-cultural counseling, sexual abuse and alcohol, therapist’s self-care and academic workplace violence.

Miller has been a volunteer psychologist with Appalachian District Health Department since 1994, has worked some semesters as a psychologist with the university’s Student Counseling Center, and has worked as a trainer for Appalachian’s Institute for Health and Human Services.

“It’s a very deserved honor,” said Dr. Lee Baruth, chair of the Department of Human Development and Psychology Counseling. “Geri is a vital part of our addictions counseling graduate program.”

The department offers master’s level degrees in clinical mental health counseling, professional school counseling, college student development, and marriage and family counseling.  The department also offers graduate certificate programs in addictions counseling and expressive arts therapy.

Graduates go on to careers with human service agencies, public schools and in colleges and universities.

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