Dr. Paula King at an Empty Bowls event to increase awareness and raise funds to address hungr in the community.

This spring, Southeast Missouri State University suffered two great losses when Dr. Paula King and Dr. Gary Miller both passed away unexpectedly. With their passing, the University and its students lost the talent, energy and expertise of two highly respected educators.

Dr. King became the chair of the College of Health and Human Services within two years of joining Southeast.

“She will be remembered for her passion for education, her dedication to her students and her family,” says Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast.

Dr. Miller served as the associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and director of the Earl and Margie Holland School for Visual and Performing Arts.

“We will sorely miss Gary,” says Dr. Dobbins. “He was very instrumental in the River Campus programming.”

Dr. Gary Miller with former Southeast Student Neal E. Boyd at a River Campus concert.

While his tenure as teacher has passed, Dr. Miller’s love of music will still be present at the River Campus. The Board of Regents approved dedicating an organ practice room in his name during its meeting in July. Miller played the organ, harpsichord, oboe, cello and piano.

In addition to sharing their enthusiasm and craft with Southeast students for decades, both Dr. Miller and Dr. King are posthumously helping students finance their education in the fields these scholars loved. Scholarships in memory of both were established this past spring.

The Gary L. Miller Musical Theatre Scholarship is a talent-based scholarship for a student participating in the annual scholarship auditions, majoring in the Department of Theatre and Dance with an emphasis in musical theatre.

The Dr. Paula R. King Scholarship assists a Southeast student majoring in fashion merchandising.

To help continue their passion and inspiration to Southeast students, visit semofoundation.org to make a gift to either scholarship.