James Miller (left) poses for a picture with Dr. Teri Estrem (center) and Dan Miller. Photo by Nick Lenz ’11
– Dr. Teri Estrem, associate professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
The prestigious Miller Scholars program recognizes and rewards faculty members who have a demonstrated record of motivation, excellence and leadership in teaching and learning. Established through a generous endowed gift by James W. and Marion Miller, prospective Miller Scholars undergo a rigorous selection process as they advance a high-quality project proposal that will elevate their teaching and learning to a significantly higher level.
Miller Scholars Dr. Teri Estrem and Dr. Chaturi Edrisinha recognized an important unmet need for timely autism assessments in the St. Cloud area and how students in the School of Health and Human Services could help. Working closely with professionals at CentraCare Health System over the last three years, Estrem and Edrisinha engaged in conversations with the system as they built and executed their project.
With the help of the Miller Scholars award, they launched a project to build the capacity of primary care and other service providers to improve the outcomes of individuals with autism through early identification and intervention. The project provided students in the School of Health and Human Services with the opportunity to gain an on-campus clinical experience from qualified faculty helping them link and and integrate academic learning to their clinical experience.
