June 7, 2018
Grain science department names Rebecca Miller as assistant professor
Bringing a wealth of academic and industry experience, Rebecca Miller has been named the new assistant professor of bakery science and management in the grain science and industry department at K-State.
Miller will teach undergraduate courses such as Baking Science I and II and Flour Dough Testing. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she also will manage the labs and distance education versions of these course offerings.
"Students ask questions all the time about the industry and professors with successful industry careers like Becky are in a unique position to provide meaningful answers," said Gordon Smith, department head of grain science. "I am looking forward to having her immediate and significant positive impact on the program."
Miller has been with the K-State family for more than 20 years. After completing her undergraduate degree in bakery science, she went on to earn her master's and doctorate from the grain science and industry department as well.
After graduation, Miller and a colleague owned and operated a successful consulting firm for more than 10 years. Miller returned to the grain science and industry department in 2006 when she accepted the position of director of the Wheat Quality Lab. In this role, Miller's main focus was to test the end use of wheat varieties primarily in sandwich breads. In 2009, she transitioned to a research professor where she was able to work with graduate students and be an active mentor in their research.
Miller said she is excited to get students involved with undergraduate research and that she looks forward to modernizing the lab space for product development and other small-scale projects.
"Not all of my students are baking students and appealing to all of their interests and aspirations is going to be challenging," Miller said. "I'm excited to teach these topics to such a broad group and be able to give each one of them information that's going to make them successful."