In an effort to honor the African-American faculty and staff members from each of the nine schools affiliated with the America East, the conference is putting together a nine-part video series featuring one prominent African-American from each school. These features will highlight the connection each of these individuals have on campus as well as in the surrounding communities.

Through his research on the intersection of spirituality, social welfare and public health, Dr. Robert L. Miller, Jr. has been examining the meaning of piety in the lives of African American gay men living with AIDS. Within the research, Dr. Miller has promoted illness prevention efforts between faith-based institutions and health related community based organizations.

As an associate professor in the School of Social Welfare at Albany, Dr. Robert L. Miller, Jr. has given students and faculty many opportunities to understand what gives him motive to conduct research in this area. Dr. Miller is a strong and active participant in the US-Africa Partnership for Building Strong Communities. He recently traveled to Africa with students to learn about cultural and religious diversity, and also to study international social and economic policies and programs that help to promote change and development. Along with the trip, Dr. Miller created a conference on minority health disparities that featured leading physicians, social workers, and nurses from across the nation and Puerto Rico called, "Health Disparities in Sexual Minorities: Along the Life Cycle: A Beginning Conversation."

As an individual who has made an impact on his students and campus community through various trips and events, Dr. Robert L. Miller, Jr. is an ideal representative from the University at Albany for Black History Month.