Pat Ann Miller

 Pat Ann Miller, former Director of the Lectures Program at Iowa State University, died Sunday, Aug. 15, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. The cause was complications due to ALS, which she had gracefully battled for several years.

Patricia Schneider was born Sept. 11, 1949, in Des Moines, the second oldest of Berthold W. and Rose K. Schneider's five children. She attended St. Pius Elementary School and graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1967. While working at Younkers she met Kemp Miller, whom she married in 1968.

In 1973, Pat and Kemp moved to Ames, where she took a position at the Iowa State University Press and then later worked for the University Honors program. She left Iowa State to care of her two young children while continuing her education, ultimately earning a bachelor's degree in psychology from ISU. In 1981, she returned to Iowa State as an assistant to the University Lectures Program, which had been under the direction of Prof. James Lowrie for 25 years. Pat would become director of the program and her skills as a contract negotiator, coupled with her natural ability to raise funds, helped Miller and her student committees attract a diverse group of international leaders, politicians, scientists, writers, artists, and entertainers to Iowa State. She led the University Lectures program for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2018.

Pat was committed to involving students in the process of selecting, hosting, and introducing the speakers. Hundreds of students have been able to have one-on-one contact with the top-name speakers. During her tenure as director, the ISU Lectures Program received the International Platform Association's Drew Pearson Award for excellence in university lecture programming and the National Association of Campus Activities Award. In 1987 she launched the Presidential Caucus Series, which has provided students, faculty, and community members with an opportunity to question presidential candidates or their representative before the precinct caucuses.

Her work on behalf of women's leadership, advancement and equality was recognized with a 1997 Strong-Minded Woman Award, presented by Iowa State's Carrie Champam Catt Center, and a 1993 Sex Equity Award, sponsored by the Margaret Sloss Women's Center. In 1991, she received the ISU Human Relations Award, which is recognized contributions to the advancement of human relations within and among all segments of the campus community. In 2019, she was named a Woman of Influence by the Des Moines Business Record.

Pat was beloved by Iowa State students. She was adviser, confidant, problem-solver, cheerleader, matchmaker, and internship lander. Pat was also a voracious reader of fiction and nonfiction and a huge fan of going to the movies and travel. She had a lively intellect and sharp wit, which remained intact even as ALS depleted her physically. She will be remembered with immeasurable fondness by all.

Pat is survived by her husband; daughter, Megan (Mike) Turriff, grandchildren, Matthew and Mackenzie; daughter, Lauren (Travis) Brown, grandchildren, Haley and Bella; and siblings, Cathie Schneider, Matthew Schneider, and Ann Valdez. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Michael Schneider.

Memorials can be sent to the Pat Miller Lectures Fund (www.foundation.iastate.edu/patmiller) or the ALS Association Iowa Chapter (https://www.als.org/iowa). Please no flowers. A celebration of life is planned for the spring of 2022. Details are forthcoming.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Adams Funeral Home and online condolences may be left to Pat's family at www.adamssoderstrum.com.