[2009 Leadership Profiles] Dini Miller

Technical know-how and strong people skills make this VPI researcher a rising star in the pest management industry.

In the predominately male-dominated field of urban entomology research, Dini Miller has made a name for herself by providing the industry with cutting-edge research and training programs based not only on textbook learning, but on first-hand field observations.

Since arriving at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 10 years ago, Miller has become a trusted resource for pest management professionals and an even-handed sounding board for other researchers, all while developing a future generation of entomologists from Virginia Tech’s entomology department.

“Dini has impressed me with the broad base that she has built at Virginia Tech,” said colleague Dr. Phil Koehler, who was Miller’s adviser and mentor while she was a graduate student at the University of Florida (UF). “Most researchers build a program around a narrow base of interests. Dini has taken on every major problem for the pest control industry that has been presented to her. It is that desire to help the industry, regardless of whether it is a problem that she currently has expertise in solving or not, that has served her well,” Koehler said.

 Examples of Miller’s broad-based entomology program includes Virginia Tech research efforts in dealing with evolving pest challenges such as German cockroach bait aversion and the re-emergence of bed bugs. In fact, Miller was one of only two university researchers who spoke at the EPA Bed Bug Seminar in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

A WINDING ROAD. Like many in her field, Miller’s route to the entomology field can best be described as circuitous. As a child growing up in Southern California, Miller will be the first to tell you that it took her a while to focus on any one pursuit. Miller grew up in a single-parent home. Her mother Diana worked as a secretary, struggling to make ends meet and support Dini and younger brother Richard. This unconventional upbringing is at least partly responsible for her lack of focus, Miller said. “Growing up was not a good experience. I can’t say that I exactly had a plan.”

Miller was more interested in other non-academic pursuits. “Actually, I was a pretty good student until I discovered boys,” she said.

It wasn’t until after high school, while Miller was working full-time and taking classes at a local community college that the proverbial “light went on.” An interest in biology and — perhaps of greater importance – gaining a better understanding of a hard day’s work in the real world (in Miller’s case, working in retail) helped her focus on her studies.

In 1988, after having just turned 26, Miller enrolled as a non-traditional student at the University of Los Angeles, California (UCLA). It was at UCLA where Miller really took an interest in entomology, born out of her interest in ecosystems and the discovery of new species. She went on to earn a B.A. in geography and ecosystems from UCLA in 1991, and then applied to graduate school at the University of Florida, with the goal of studying dung-rolling beetles. “But as usually is the case there really wasn’t much interest in that type of research,” Miller recalls.

All the way across the country at the University of Florida, Dr. Phil Koehler was reviewing post-graduate candidates and was impressed by Miller’s credentials, although not necessarily her research interests. “I got this call from this crazy man and he was telling me this story about removing American cockroaches from a sewage treatment plant,” Miller recalls. “They had removed eight pounds worth of American roaches per night. This was the story he was using to entice me to join his program.”

Ever the scientist, Miller was indeed intrigued by this project and thought UF would be a good fit, so in 1992 she packed up her belongings in a ’73 Datsun station wagon and moved east. Miller said her years at UF were exciting and challenging as she learned the technical side of entomology (working with German cockroaches), but also honed communication and public speaking skills. “Dr. Koehler gives his students a lot of hands-on experience with a variety of different things. I’ve tried to run my program similar to how he runs his,” Miller says.

Koehler said he was immediately impressed with Miller, the student. “She has extraordinary people skills and is a very happy person to work with,” he said. “Most students drag into the laboratory to face another week or another day of work. Dini was always happy to be with us and enjoyed the people and the work with bugs. You could tell as a graduate student that she would excel because of her blend of people and insect skills.”

Miller’s time at the University of Florida also was important in her personal life; she met her husband Tim, who also has earned a master’s degree from UF’s entomology program.

BIG CHANGES. In 1998, while Miller was in her last semester at the University of Florida, she learned of an opening at Virginia Tech. Dr. Bill Robinson, who had been at Virginia Tech for 27 years, was retiring. Miller was intrigued by the position for a number of reasons including the fact that it was mainly an extension appointment.

“In the span of one week, I graduated, got married and was hired for my new job. It was nuts,” Miller recalled.

In their early years in Blacksburg, Dini worked for Virginia Tech, while husband Tim worked as a food safety auditor for Steritech, a company he liked and work he enjoyed, but the constant travel (throughout the country) was difficult. As the Virginia Tech entomology program expanded, it received funding to hire a part-time technician. “I went to my department head and said, ‘I’m having a hard time filling this position. I know this guy who has a master’s in entomology,’” Miller said. Tim was hired soon after and remains in that position today.

Upon arriving at Virginia Tech, Miller quickly became an invaluable resource for the pest management industry, said Andrea Coron, executive director of the Virginia Pest Management Association (VPMA). “One of the very first things she said to me upon moving into her position at Virginia Tech is, ‘I am at your disposal.’ She has been true to that promise,” Coron said.

Miller has played a critical role in the development and implementation of VPMA’s four ongoing programs: Wood-Destroying Insect Inspector Certification Program, IPM in Schools and Government Accounts Training, Master Technician Series Workshops and Professional Pretreat Workshops. Many of her students over the last decade have been instrumental in the implementation of these programs by preparing and presenting components of these educational offerings.

Pest management professionals who have worked with Miller appreciate the training she has provided and also enjoy working with her. “One of the things I admire about Dini is her willingness to go out and work in the field,” said Kevin Kordek, president of A-Active Termite and Pest Control, Virginia Beach, Va. “Dini assisted us with (field testing). She had to make a six-hour drive in a hand-me-down truck and was always on time, rain or shine. While she was on site, our technicians really enjoyed working with her. She has this ability to take really complex technical information and break it down into terms that the average rank-and-file technician can understand.”

Another of Miller’s important contributions is in the development of talented graduate students, many of whom later end up helping the pest control industry either as employees, researchers or educators. 

“Dini was a mentor to me because she trusted and believed in me. She gave me enough space as a student to explore what I was interested in, but she also was wise enough to keep me moving forward productively,” said Marc Fisher, a recent graduate from Virginia Tech’s entomology department.

A MUTUAL RESPECT. While Miller has earned praised for shaping the VT entomology program and contributing to the pest control industry in a variety of ways, she is quick to recognize the many pest management professionals with whom she has worked.

“I have the greatest job in the world. Pest control operators have been so great to me,” Miller said. “I appreciate people who work hard, and pest control is a hard job. I appreciate all that’s involved, whether it’s crawling in crawlspaces, understanding product efficacy, how bugs work and dealing with people. I’ve gained such an appreciation for all of the knowledge it takes to do this work.”

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Up close: Dr. Dini Miller
Title: Associate Professor
Company/Affiliation: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
Personal: Married to husband Tim since 1998; animal enthusiast who volunteers at a dog pound; currently owns a Shar Pei pit bull pug; enjoys yoga, hiking, canoeing and international travel
Career Highlights:

• B.A., forestry and ecosystems, University of California at Los Angeles (1991) 
• M.S., entomology, University of Florida (1994)
• Ph.D., entomology, University of Florida (1998)
• Key projects include developing Virginia’s IPM in Schools Program and assessing the value of IPM in Virginia Public Housing
• Extensive research on German cockroach bait aversion
• Recognized the early 2000s bed bug resurgence and was a ground-floor researcher; continues to be one of the nation’s leading bed bug researchers