In April 2016, The Board of Trustees announced the revival of University College, a familiar campus institution with a long history of serving nontraditional students.  The Board’s intent was to bring the synergies of three units — the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning, YouCollege, which had been serving undecided students, and UT Online – together as part of President Gaber’s commitment to enriching the student experience at the University of Toledo.  With this announcement came the introduction of Dr. Barbara Kopp Miller as the Dean of the new University College.

Having served as the associate provost for online education since 2012, Dr. Barbara Kopp Miller brings extensive administrative experience to the Dean’s role. She has served as Executive Associate Dean for Research and Quality, as Associate Dean for Research and Quality, as the Curriculum Coordinator for the Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Gerontological Practice and as the Administrative Director for the Center for Successful Aging, a position she continues to hold along with her Dean’s title. In her role as Dean of University College, she has been asked by the Provost to represent the University on a wide variety of statewide initiatives being coordinated by  the Ohio Department of Higher Education including College Credit Plus, Workforce Development, Prior Learning Assessment, Transfer Credit and Competency Based Education.

Dr. Kopp Miller received her bachelor of science in psychology (1986), her master’s in art in psychology (1990), a Graduate Certificate of Gerontology (1990) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (1995) from Bowling Green State University.  She joined the faculty at the University of Toledo in 1991, receiving tenure in 1999 and being promoted to full professor in 2011. As a researcher, Dr. Kopp Miller has secured over two and half million dollars in external funding, has authored more than twenty (20) peer-reviewed journals, published six conference proceedings, co-developed computer software, written three (3) book chapters, and given over 135 invited talks at the international, national, regional, state and local professional meetings. She has produced an array of media presentations for the University and various professional organizations.  As a faculty member, Dr. Kopp Miller has taught a diverse array of graduate and undergraduate courses. She has served as the advisor for more than sixty graduate students. In recognition of her commitment to students, she has been awarded both the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence and the Mentor Award.

As a social psychologist and gerontologist, Barbara continues to be a sought-after speaker for community events. She has given over 150 presentations across the region and state. As a strong community advocate, she served in leadership roles for organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association of Northwest Ohio, the Northwest Ohio Gerontological Association, the Great Lake Collaborative for Autism, Sunset Retirement Communities, Zonta International of Toledo and the University of Toledo Catharine S. Eberly Center.

Dr. Kopp Miller has received the 20 under 40 Award for Community Service (2003), the Heartbeat Award (2004), the Jefferson Award for Public Service (2009), and the Alice H. Skeens Outstanding University Woman Award from the University of Toledo’s Women’s Commission (2012).