Miller named Gillings School’s associate dean for advancement

August 11, 2014

Crystal Hinson Miller, MA, CFRE, has been named associate dean for advancement at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. The appointment is effective Sept. 1.

Crystal Miller

Miller currently serves as vice president for children’s programs at The Medical Foundation of North Carolina Inc., part of the UNC Health Care System and UNC Medical School.

As lead development and communications officer for N.C. Children’s Hospital since 2005, Miller has overseen all aspects of fundraising, donor and volunteer relations, board management, development strategic planning and communications related to the hospital and to the School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. During fiscal year 2014, she was credited with a 26 percent increase in private gift commitments.

“We are thrilled that Crystal accepted our offer,” said Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH, dean of the Gillings School. “We had a great search committee, and they were very enthusiastic about her. She is a seasoned development professional, with a great track record, who brings tremendous energy, experience, drive and a commitment to our goals and values. She is creative, an outstanding communicator, and we appreciate her deep ties to North Carolina.”

Prior to her position with the Medical Foundation, Miller served as director of external affairs for the UNC medical school’s Department of Psychiatry. She also was director of development for the Appalachian State College of Fine and Applied Arts and as development officer for the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School at Appalachian State.

A native North Carolinian, Miller received a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and master’s degree, with honors, from Appalachian State University. She became a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 2003 and has made presentations at professional conferences of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions and American Association of Medical Colleges – Group on Institutional Advancement.

“The opportunity to lead the alumni and development program at the nation’s top public school of public health is a tremendous honor,” Miller said. “I am delighted with my appointment to the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and cannot think of a more exciting time to become associate dean for advancement than during the school’s 75th anniversary. I look forward to working closely with Dean Rimer as well as the advancement staff, the School of Public Health Foundation Board, and many others in fueling the school’s strong tradition of philanthropy.”

Miller succeeds Sandy Moulton, JD, MPH, interim associate dean for advancement, in the position last permanently held by Peggy Dean Glenn.

Rimer expressed gratitude for Moulton’s leadership in the interim role.

“Along with our excellent advancement staff, Sandy has enabled us to continue making progress even in the absence of a permanent associate dean for advancement,” Rimer said.