Pictured, left to right, are Dr. J. “Wayne” Miller ’60 ’76, Joanna Miller Lyall ’90, Kimmon Miller Pruitt ’13 and Katie Lyall. Photo submitted
All in the Appalachian family By Audrey Gurkin ’16
Joanna Lyall ’90, associate vice president and program and campaign manager with the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, recently created a new scholarship to honor her father, Dr. Joseph Wainwright Miller ’60 ’76. Miller was able to attend Appalachian from 1956–60 with the help of a GI Bill after honorably serving his country in the Army. One of four children, Miller was the first in his family to earn a college degree. As an enthusiastic advocate of higher education, Miller took his family on many trips to Boone, North Carolina, to see Appalachian. He always managed to go by Tweetsie Railroad, he said, to pique the interest of Lyall. He said this was all part of his plan, with the hopes that a passion for higher education would develop in Lyall. His plan worked. Lyall went on to earn her degree at Appalachian and her daughter, Katie Lyall, is currently a junior building sciences major at Appalachian. Miller’s niece, Marsha Miller ’82, and great-nieces, Melanie Lowrance ’15 and Kimmon Miller Pruett ’13, also graduated from Appalachian. Lyall serves as a member of the Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS) Advisory Council, providing advice and support to the college. She also serves as a preceptor for interns through her role at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and works with the BCHS to host interns as they explore their future career paths. Lyall has worked with interns since her own graduation, and she credits Appalachian and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’s partnership with helping her teach in every area. Lyall said, “We can help bring the next generation along by providing opportunities to explore their various areas of interest while they’re in their internship. We try to have our interns attend all events and meetings, and we cherish their feedback. This process helps us all grow.” today.appstate.edu • 79