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WHY I STRIVE
FOR EXCELLENCE
DON MILLER
CERTIFIED HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL (CHEP) IN TEACHING,
LEAD TECHNICAL TEAM LEADER & INSTRUCTOR –
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE – HOUSTON
How many years of experience do you
have in higher education?
Fourteen years.
How did you begin your career in higher
education?
Aer spending approximately 20 years in the automotive repair
industry, I received an invitation to a job fair at Universal
Technical Institute in Houston, Texas, in 2003. I was hired on
as an automotive electrical instructor and it changed my life.
I always thought that I would enjoy teaching, but never knew
how much. It has been fourteen years now and I haven't looked
back. I truly love my job and it has been a full-circle experience
for me, as I am also a graduate of Universal Technical Institute.
What part of your job brings you the
most personal satisfaction?
Being able to give back and share my experiences with the
students has been very satisfying. Seeing the smile on a
student's face when they finally feel confident that they have
truly learned the task at hand is a wonderful experience. I
sincerely feel that I am in the business of changing lives for the
better—one life at a time.
What advice do you have for fellow
educators in the career college sector of
higher education?
Patience and understanding is key when instructing students. I
have the pleasure of teaching students aged 18 to 60. Teaching
today's youth can be challenging, as many tend to lack logical
thinking skills as compared to older generations, which I
