As the kite slips higher into the sky, picking up with the wind, he’s certain of his success in building it, as well as the organization he’s involved in at that very moment.
Although not many people can say experience with building and flying stunt kites has lead them to a deeper understanding of leadership, Rick Miller, director of the Rayburn Student Center, can say just that.
Since first serving Texas A&M University-Commerce as program director and acting director of the student center from 1979 to 1983, Miller has always expressed an interest in on-campus organizations and improving the leadership within them.
After leaving A&M-Commerce for the first time in 1983, Miller started a company, Designs for Development (DFD), in which he traveled all over the United States, Canada and Australia, providing training in leadership development, organizational effectiveness and creativity for numerous universities.
“I still go out and do some consulting, but DFD doesn’t book other speakers or do the conference circuit like we used to. I was on the road 280 days-gone way too much!” Miller said.
Still interested in working on campus, Miller returned to A&M-Commerce in 1998 to work on what would later become the synergy lab and leadership programs.
“[In the synergy lab], organizations and individuals come together to work on programs. We have the Graf/x Palace, Pride Shop, IdeaWorks, Monster Studio and Serious Fun Prop Room. There are four professional staff members working there with the help of two support staff and lots of students making things happen,” Miller said.
In 2003, Miller became the director of the student center, taking on a whole new set of responsibilities.
“Right now, a lot of time is spent on developing the systems we will be using in the new center. It is really interesting-as we do a program, we are looking at how it will fit into the new building, what resources I will take and what changes will need to be created,” Miller said.
Currently, Miller is helping develop the state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems for the club and ballroom in the new student center. Along with that, there will be an InfoDesk that will provide the services of a campus concierge.
The meeting rooms also being designed will have built in media presentation equipment and flexible seating and meeting arrangements.
“To power all this-will be students. I am currently working on staffing patterns and needs that will entail the technical training, customer service training and the knowledge based training for the InfoDesk, Scheduling, recreation and production areas,” Miller said, “A student center with students running the various areas as managers, desk workers and assistants requires a lot of planning, care and feeding.”
When its construction is complete, Miller hopes the new student center will become a great lab for students to gain experience in many areas.
“As an educator, I see the potential for any student with any major to be able to come in and find a path that will help them become what they are seeking to become personally and professionally,” Miller said, “The accessibility of the new center builds upon what we do now-but it broadens the opportunities by eliminating many of the physical and systemic barriers of getting things done.”
Miller also hopes to provide several hands-on opportunities so students can explore and develop skills while producing events and making their ideas become reality.