Cindy Miller, Ph.D.

Bio

Cynthia (Cindy) Miller is an Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences Education in the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University. Before coming to Texas Tech, she was an Assistant Professor for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Coordinator of the Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences degree program at Eastern New Mexico University for 3 ½ years. She was also a former CTE administrator for two West Texas school districts for 13 years and before then was a secondary business education teacher for 11 years in Lubbock. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education in Secondary Business Education, and her Ph.D. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Texas Tech University. She is currently the editor of the Undergraduate Research Journal for Human Sciences published by Kappa Omicron Nu.

Research Interests or Areas of Expertise

• Quality of Work-Based Learning in Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS)/Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Practical Reasoning (Critical Science) in FCS
• Career Development and Planning
• Curriculum Development in FCS
• Advocacy in FCS Education

Certifications, Awards and Honors

Certifications

• Certified Family and Consumer Sciences Educator (CFCS), American Association for Family & Consumer Sciences Credentialing Center
• Certified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE), American Association for Family & Consumer Sciences Credentialing Center
• Global Career Development Facilitator Instructor Certification, National Career Development Association (NCDA)
• Mid-Management Administrator Certificate (Grades K-12), Texas Education Agency
• Secondary Business Composite, Teacher Educator Certificate (Grades 6-12), Texas Education Agency
• Vocational Office Education, Teacher Educator Certificate (Grades 6-12), Texas Education Agency

Awards and Honors

• President’s Excellence in Engaged Research Award, 2024
• Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honorary Member, 2024
• Lawrence Schovanec Teaching Development Scholarship, 2024
• Teaching Academy Member, Texas Tech University, 2023
• Alumni New Faculty Award, Texas Tech University Alumni Association, 2023
• Friend of the Family Award, American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences—Texas Affiliate, 2023
• Professional of the Year Award, American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences—Texas Affiliate, 2022
• Institute for Inclusive Excellence Fellow, Texas Tech University, 2021-22
• Career and Technical Education Teacher Educator of the Year Award, National Finalist, Association for Career and Technical Education, 2020
• Career and Technical Education Teacher Educator of the Year Award, Region IV, Association for Career and Technical Education, 2020

Selected Publications

Miller, C. L. (Accepted/In-Press). Preparing Tomorrow's Faculty for AI Integration: Lessons from a Graduate Teaching Course. Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Schmitt, M. D., & Miller, C. L. (Accepted/In Press). Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Houy, G., Alexander, K., Miller, C. L., Roberson, K., & Tuliao, M. (2025). A Deeper Look at Adulting 101: Correlation of Participant Education Level to Self-Confidence in Life Skills. International Journal for Professional Educators, 91(3), 33-43.

Hough, T. D., Rogers, C., Alexander, K. L., & Miller, C. L. (2025). Career and Education Planning Among Young Black Women: Implications for FCS Educators. Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 53(3), 1-14.

Wanago, N., Alexander, K. L., Vaterlaus, J. M., Somerfeld, H., Miller, C. L., & Roberson, K. (2025). A Critical Science Qualitative Case Study: Historical Insights and Future Directions. Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 53(3), 1-15.

Miller, C. (Ed.) (2024). Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences, 17(1), 6 articles.

Miller, C. L. (2024). Family Policy in Focus: Harnessing the Power of Practical Reasoning for Effective Advocacy and Change. TTU Pressbooks: Open Education Resource. https://raider.pressbooks.pub/familypolicy/

Houy, G., Alexander, K., Miller, C., Roberson, K., & Tuliao, M. (2024). Self-Confidence of Individuals in Adult Skills and the Perceived Student Value of an Adulting Course in Educational Entities: A Mixed Methods Research Design. International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE), 17(1), 163-176.

Hinson, J., & Miller, C. L. (2024). Analysis of Mental Health Policies: Impacts on Families and Stakeholder Perspectives Policy Brief. Texas Affiliate Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 11(1), 35-50.

Schmitt, M. D., Alexander, K. L., Miller, C. L., Roberson, K. L., & Kiuchi, Y. (2024). The Effects of a Digital Wellness Curriculum Intervention in Family and Consumer Sciences Secondary Classrooms. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences Education, 41(1), 33-48.

Wanago, N., Alexander, K. L., Miller, C. L., Roberson, K. L. (2024). Critical Science: A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Research (1979-2022). Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 52(4), 327-346.

Miller, C. L., & Hough, T. (2024). Effectiveness of Work-Based Learning Training in Secondary Family & Consumer Sciences. Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 52(4), 347-367.

Miller, C. L., Alexander, K. L., Roberson, K. L., Holland, A., Houy, G., Schmitt, M. D., & Tuliao, M. D. (2023). Creating a “Say Yes to FCS” teaching camp to address the critical FCS teacher shortage in a local community. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 115(4), 41-45.

Hill-Cloyd, J. C., & Miller, C. L. (2023). Between mandates and molding minds: The challenge of teacher autonomy today. Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences, 16(1), 1-21.

Ashworth, K. M., & Miller, C. L. (2023). Family separation at the U.S. border: History, impact, and solutions for humanitarian approach. Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences, 16(1), 1-16.

Jones, A., Alexander, K. L., Lawson, C. R., Miller, C. L., & Roberson, K. (2023). High-impact practices and mentoring opportunities. TAFCS Research Journal, 10(1), 28-40

Miller, C. L. (2023). Increasing undergraduates’ social action in a family policy course through critical science-focused instructional strategies. International Journal for Professional Educators, 89(5), 35-48. 

Miller, C. L. (2023). Bonus Chapter: Developing High-Quality Work-Based Learning Experiences in Family & Consumer Sciences. In Alexander, Karen L., & Holland, Amanda (Ed.), Teaching Family & Consumer Sciences in the 21st Century e-Textbook, 3rd Edition. The Curriculum Center for Family & Consumer Sciences.

Houy, G., Alexander, K. L., Miller, C., Roberson, K., Holland, A., & Schmitt, M. (2023). Using bibliotherapy to promote culture competence in family and consumer sciences education. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences Education, 40(1), 35-45.

Miller, C. L., & Hough, T. (2023). Providing Quality Work-Based Learning Training for Secondary Family and Consumer Sciences Educators. Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences, 115(1).

Miller, C. L., & Hough, T. (Accepted/In Press). Work-Based Learning Handbook for Family & Consumer Sciences Teachers. Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University Curriculum Center for Family & Consumer Sciences. https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/ccfcs/

Hunt, S., Alexander, K., Miller, C., & Roberson, K. (2022). Burnout: Exploring opportunities for the family and consumer sciences profession to address the issue. Texas Affiliate of Family & Consumer Sciences (TAFCS) Research Journal, 9(1), 71-95.

Alexander, K. L. & Miller, C. L. (2020). Contributions of Family and Consumer Sciences Education to Career Development and Preparation and Opportunities For Future Research: A Review Of Literature. Texas Affiliate Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 7(1), 24-34.

Houy, G., Alexander, K. L., Miller, C. L., & Storms, K. (2020). Adulting 101: Real Skills For Real Life—A Critical Science-Based Course in the Texas Tech University Family and Consumer Sciences Education Program. International Journal for Professional Educators, 87(1), 57-62.

Miller, C. L. (2020). Chapter 29: Marketing the FCS brand. Teaching Family & Consumer Sciences in the 21^st Century (3^rd ed.) e-Textbook. Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech University Curriculum Center for Family & Consumer Sciences.

Miller, C. L. (Accepted/In-Press). Preparing Tomorrow's Faculty for AI Integration: Lessons from a Graduate Teaching Course. Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Research Grants

Miller, C. L. (Principal Investigator), “Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Workforce Readiness in High School Students Through Employer-Education Partnerships,” Sponsored by the College of Health and Human Sciences General Funding Grant, Texas Tech University, $7,500 (April 2025-March 2026).

Miller, C. L. (Lead Principal Investigator), Alexander, K. L. (Co-Investigator), & Tuliao, M. (Co-Investigator), “Bridging the Gap: Catalyzing Interest in FCS Education Among Underrepresented Students,” Sponsored by the USDA-NIFA Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture (SPECA) in the K-12 Classroom Grant, $50,000 (September 2024-July 2027).

Miller, C. L. (Principal Investigator), “Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Mini-Grant,” Sponsored by the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center, Texas Tech University, $2,000.00 (June 2024-May 2025).

Miller, C. L. (Principal Investigator), “Lawrence Schovanec Teaching Development Scholarship,” Sponsored by the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center, Texas Tech University, $1,500.00. (April 2024 – October 2024).

Alexander, K. L. (Lead Principal Investigator), Miller, C. L. (Co- Principal Investigator), & Houy, G. (Co-Principal Investigator), “Perkins Content Development,” Sponsored by Resources for Learning, LLC as a subcontract to the Texas Education Agency, State of Texas Agency, $110,508.70 (September 2023 – August 2025).

Miller, C. L. (Principal Investigator), "Open Educational Resources Adoption Incentive Grant," Sponsored by Libraries, Texas Tech University, $5,000.00. (June 2023 - June 2024).

Miller, C. L. (Principal Investigator), "Undergraduate Research Experience Grant," Sponsored by College of Human Sciences Research Office, Texas Tech University, $1,000.00. (February 2023 - August 31, 2023).

Miller, C. L. (Lead Principal Investigator), Roberson, K. (Principal Investigator),&  Alexander, K. L. (Supporting), "Development of New Distance Program Proposal: Human Sciences Education and Training," Sponsored by Worldwide eLearning, Texas Tech University, $30,000.00. (March 2022 - August 2023).

Alexander, K. L. (Principal Investigator), Graves, N. (Principal Investigator), Tripp, P. (Principal Investigator), Holland, A. (Investigator), Miller, C. (Investigator), Roberson, K. (Investigator), Moser, S. (Investigator), Borr, M. (Investigator), & Devlin, B. (Investigator), "Next Great IDEA Project 2022: FCS Extension Needs Assessment," Sponsored by Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, Other Nonprofit Org, $8,000.00. (September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2023).

Miller, C. (Lead Principal Investigator), Alexander, K. L. (Principal Investigator), Roberson, K. (Principal Investigator), Houy, G. (Supporting), Holland, A. (Supporting), Schmitt, M. (Supporting), Tuliao, M. (Supporting), "Engaged Scholarship and Collaboration Seed Grant," Sponsored by College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, $6,000.00. (April 2022 - December 2022).