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Peggy Gordon Elliot
(1992-1996)
Dr. Peggy Gordon Elliot (now Miller) was born on May 27, 1938 in Kentucky. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Transylvania College in 1959, a Master’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Northwestern University in 1964, and a doctorate in Secondary Education from Indiana University in 1975.
After teaching high school in Gary, Indiana, Elliot joined the Indiana University Northwest faculty as an English Instructor and rose through the ranks to Chancellor, serving in that position from 1984 to 1992. She left Indiana to become the 13th President of The University of Akron. She was also the first female President in the institution’s history.
As President, Elliot sought to make the campus more student-friendly, especially in serving non-traditional students. This included creating the new position of Vice President of Student Affairs and initiating an administrative restructuring that included the creation of two new divisions: Administrative Support Services and Student Support Services. During her tenure from 1992 through 1996, the faculty created the Faculty Senate to provide a new system of governance for the institution.
After UA, Elliot served on the National Center of Higher Education as a Senior Fellow and Acting Vice-President for Academic and International Programs at the American Association of State College and Universities in Washington, D.C. In 1998, Elliot became President of South Dakota State University (SDSU), but retired from that position and became the Interim Dean of the Graduate School at Texas Tech University where she now serves as Director/Special Assistant to the Provost.
Elliot has served on numerous boards for public and private entities and worked with economic development groups in three states. The mother of two children with her first husband, she married Robert Lawrence Miller in 2001 after her husband’s passing. Elliot (now Miller) achieved many accomplishments and awards including the NAACP Golden Heritage Award and the ORG Ohio Woman of the Year for Lifetime Achievement in Education. A nationally recognized advocate for urban universities and distinguished scholar, she is the author of more than 50 books, including texts used in the classroom.
“Quality and urban are very important . . . and Akron has both of those things. It’s unabashedly an urban campus, and it’s maintained a history of quality.”
– Peggy Gordon Elliot
From The University of Akron Office of Special Events Records in Archival Services of University Libraries
On May 7, 1992, more than 300 university faculty, delegates, and representatives attended the investiture of Dr. Peggy Gordon Elliot as The University of Akron’s 13th President. Elliot was invested by Mr. Benjamin G. Ammons and Dr. Melvin E. Ferris, Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board, respectively.
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
One of President Elliot’s goals was to capitalize on the momentum created by The University of Akron Campaign and continue UA’s fundraising efforts and work with alumni. In August 1992, she promoted the University by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cleveland Indians game as part of the Alumni Summer Fun program.
From The University of Akron Publications Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
The University of Akron Annual Report from 1992 sums up the state of affaris on campus during the start of the Elliot administration. As it stated, “1991-92 was a year of major additions and deletions from the University. It began with the long-sought invitation for athletics to join the Mid-American Conference. It ended with trustees adopting a 1992-1993 budget requiring $14 million in spending reductions and/or revenue enhancements to cope with cuts in state subsidies.”
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
During President Elliot’s tenure, work was completed on the Polsky Building and it opened in 1994. The renovations, which cost $28.6 million, created space for student services, continuing education classes, a university bookstore, and office and classroom spaces. The building contains a full 10 percent of the square footage of all UA property and is one of the largest educational buildings in Ohio.
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
Under President Elliot’s leadership, four new degree programs were created. This included a doctoral program in nursing, a master of social work, a master of computer science, and an associate degree in environmental health and safety technology.
“If she sounds like a rather remarkable individual, she is.”
– Dr. Lloyd Rowe