Sally Downham Miller, PhD

Dr. Sally Downham Miller is living proof that negative experiences can be channeled into positive outcomes. When her first husband died of a rare form of cancer, Miller, who was still quite young, was left to raise two small children with no means of support. Over time, she discovered resources within herself that she did not know existed, a resiliency that she would have thought impossible given her circumstances.

Miller returned to college and received her education degree from Purdue University. Now an educator for over 25 years, she has served as teacher and administrator in the public schools and as a university professor. Previously with the Massachusetts and New Jersey Departments of Education, she was a specialist in staff development, teacher training, special education, and systems management. She was a faculty member at Regent University in Virginia and at Cleveland State University, and also taught at the City University of New York while serving as an elementary school principal in New Jersey. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, which she received from Purdue in 1982.

The author of Mourning and Dancing: A Memoir of Grief and Recovery and Mourning and Dancing for Schools: A Grief and Recovery Sourcebook for
Students, Teachers and Parents, Miller has appeared on NBC News, Court TV, "Montel," and "Sally Jesse Raphael," as well as numerous radio programs. Presently, she devotes most of her time to work in the area of grief, loss, and dealing with change. She currently serves as director of a not-for-profit agency in Lafayette, Indiana, that provides grief recovery programs for adults and children.

Miller also leads retreats and speaks in the area of spiritual growth and faith in our daily lives. Her teaching, workshops, and consulting endeavors are popular with healthcare and education organizations, hospice programs, and corporate conferences. Motivated to help others through their tough times, Miller has become one of the country's leading experts on resilience and overcoming adversity.

The Five R's of Resilience

Resilience is the dynamic skill of adapting positively during significant adversity. It supercedes coping or recovering or "getting through" hard times. In the aftermath of difficulty, resilient people change themselves and what they do into growth, gain and productivity. In this presentation, Miller shares the steps to resilience, helping individuals find ways to achieve despite economic downturn, changing markets, marital strife, loss of a loved one or a key person in their organization, or any other unwanted change.

Grief and Recovery
Grief and recovery are not limited solely to the loss of a loved one. It can be an important element in other parts of our lives, including the breakup of a marriage, the loss of a job or the end of a close friendship. The psychological process of grieving and the recovering from that grief cuts across a broad spectrum of American life. Miller will work with you to help your group understand, survive, and help others deal with these difficult times.