{"id":932,"date":"2026-05-07T14:38:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/?p=932"},"modified":"2026-05-07T14:38:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:38:31","slug":"a-lifetime-of-curiosity-professor-chad-millers-path-in-technology-and-mentorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/2026\/05\/07\/a-lifetime-of-curiosity-professor-chad-millers-path-in-technology-and-mentorship\/","title":{"rendered":"A Lifetime of Curiosity: Professor Chad Miller\u2019s Path in Technology and Mentorship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Professor Chad Miller<\/a> talks about his career in technology, he often starts with a memory from when he was just 13 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember teaching BASIC on a Timex Sinclair Z80 computer to a room full of eight- and nine-year-olds,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was chaotic, fun, and challenging all at once. That experience taught me early on that technology is more than just machines. It\u2019s about people, problem-solving, and helping others see what\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That curiosity, combined with a desire to teach and empower others, would shape the next three decades of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After earning a double major in Integrated Science and Mathematics at Northwestern University, Professor Miller stepped directly into a Systems Analyst role at Eli Lilly and Company. There, he designed and developed a data-driven, client\/server tool to support FDA submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t just about coding or databases,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt was about building something that could actually make a difference for people. That sense of impact has guided every decision I\u2019ve made since.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ohio native\u2019s career path has been anything but linear, but it\u2019s all connected by a single thread: using technology to solve complex problems while empowering others to grow alongside him. After six years at Eli Lilly, he and his family moved to Evansville, Indiana, where he helped Shoe Carnival navigate a challenging technical transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were fixing systems, building networks, and training staff \u2013 all while keeping the business running day-to-day. It was stressful, but incredibly rewarding,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, he transitioned into consulting at C\/Soft, architecting networking and system integrations for multiple clients, before taking on staff positions in Butler IT, and later taking  IT leadership roles at Butler University and MJ Insurance. At MJ Insurance, Professor Miller served as Chief Information Officer, overseeing enterprise-wide technology strategy, managing an eight-person team, and guiding a $1 million budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He led a complete overhaul of IT infrastructure, orchestrated two full building migrations, managed a pandemic transition to remote work, and led his team to build the company\u2019s first data warehouse to serve as a single source of truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople often think IT is just about computers,\u201d he says. \u201cBut really, it\u2019s about trust, collaboration, and enabling others to do their best work. That\u2019s what I focused on \u2013 transforming IT from a cost center to a strategic partner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Miller has also maintained a strong and enduring connection to Butler University throughout his career. From serving as Senior Director of Technology Development to multiple adjunct and faculty roles, he has contributed to the campus community in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always felt a part of Butler,\u201d he says. \u201cWhether it was supporting systems, mentoring students, or teaching, Butler has been a place where curiosity, collaboration, and people matter. It feels like home, and that sense of belonging drives everything I do here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now a Lecturer in Business Technology and Analytics at the Lacy School of Business, he brings this perspective into the classroom, helping students connect the technical aspects of IT with real-world business strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want students to see how technology intersects with business outcomes,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt\u2019s not enough to know how to build a system \u2013 you have to understand why, how it impacts people, and how it creates value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He draws on decades of experience in enterprise architecture, data governance, and organizational strategy to provide students with real-world context. His teaching philosophy mirrors his approach to leadership: thoughtful, supportive, and future-focused. He always tells students that mistakes aren\u2019t failures \u2013 they\u2019re opportunities to learn and pivot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe best leaders are the ones who can guide teams through uncertainty while still moving forward,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Miller\u2019s commitment to mentorship extends beyond the classroom. As an Executive Career Mentor<\/a>, he advises students, alumni, and executives, helping them navigate career transitions and develop leadership skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven after 32 years in IT, I\u2019m energized by innovation and learning,\u201d he says. \u201cTechnology changes every day, but problem-solving, collaboration, and mentorship \u2013 those are timeless skills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His story is a reminder that technology careers are not just about code, networks, or systems; they\u2019re about curiosity, perseverance, and people. From teaching BASIC in a small basement to shaping enterprise-wide IT strategy, and now inspiring the next generation of business leaders, Professor Miller has spent a lifetime building systems and developing leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d he says, \u201cI hope students remember that it\u2019s not just what you know \u2013 it\u2019s how you use it to help others succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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When Professor Chad Miller talks about his career in technology, he often starts with a memory from when he was just 13 years old. \u201cI remember teaching BASIC on a Timex Sinclair Z80 computer to a room full of eight- and nine-year-olds,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was chaotic, fun, and challenging all at once. That experience […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2812,"featured_media":944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"coauthors":[38],"class_list":["post-932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-insights"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2812"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=932"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":946,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/932\/revisions\/946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=932"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/lacybusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}