Miller is from Memphis, Tennessee.[1] She completed a B.S. in biology from LeMoyne–Owen College in 1976.[2][3] She earned a M.S. (1978) and Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Clark Atlanta University.[2][4] Her master's thesis was titled, The effects of the l-proline analog, l-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, on the morphogenesis of feathers in developing chick embryos.[3] Roy Hunter Jr. was her academic advisor.[3] She completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.[4]
Miller was an assistant dean in the college of human and community sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno.[1] For six years, she was the vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at LeMoyne–Owen College.[1] She was the provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Southwest Tennessee Community College for six years.[1] She was chancellor of Sowela Technical Community College from 2007 to 2012. In December 2011, she became chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College.[2] On September 1, 2015, she became the 12th president of LeMoyne-Owen College, succeeding Johnnie B. Watson.[1][2] She is the first woman and second alumnus to serve in the role.[1] In June 2017, she received a vote of no-confidence from its 51 full-time faculty members.[5] Her term as president ended on September 1, 2019.[5] She was succeeded by interim president Carol Johnson-Dean.[6] In 2019, she joined AMEC Group, Inc. as its president and chief executive officer.[4]