In the “good old days,” boys read comic books. In fact, Andy Miller ’93 obtained his first one featuring the Justice League when he was just six. He remembers his mother taking him on weekly trips to convenience stores (and later comic book stores) to search for the latest issues. His grandfather would often take him to local comic book conventions in Houston, patiently waiting while Andy pored through boxes of back issues, looking for undiscovered treasure and collectors’ items. Who knew that, after 30 years of collecting and an accumulation of more than 15,000 books, he would choose his alma mater, Southwestern University, as the permanent home for his collection?

As a South Houston High School graduate, Southwestern was his second choice. But from the interview process with former lacrosse coach Monty Curtis to his mentors, Dr. Dan Hilliard and Dr. Ed Kain in the department of sociology and Dr. Jimmy Smith in kinesiology, Andy says, “SU did such a great job of selling me on the small, liberal arts experience.” Hilliard had a focus on sociology and sports, and Kain arranged for a pivotal internship for him with AIDS Services in Austin. Looking back, Andy attributes his employment in multiple positions with nonprofit organizations throughout the country to his SU degree in sociology with a minor in kinesiology.

Socially, Andy was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, which hired him as a consultant to travel to multiple campuses between graduation and the pursuit of a master’s in health science education from the University of Florida.

From there, he built a career in health education, first at UF’s Student Health Care Center, and later at the Texas Medical Association, where he helped educate primary care physicians about cancer screenings and new prevention protocols. That led to 10 years at the Livestrong Foundation, where, as grant program director and eventually Executive VP of Operations, he developed global programs for post-treatment support for cancer survivors that are still in effect today.

Personal experiences involving adopting a son led him to start his own nonprofit to help other gay men obtain access to resources to become fathers and receive peer support. He was later hired as CEO of Any Baby Can in Austin and then commuted to Fort Worth to run the Morris Foundation’s health and human services giving portfolio. COVID forced him to return home to Austin as Chief Strategy Officer for Texas Health Institute, and now he is the Executive Director of the 75-year-old Austin Child Guidance Center.

Andy says knowledge of sociology has been “hugely beneficial in nonprofit work.” However, long before his formal education, comic books, especially his favorite Justice League issues, instilled in him the power of a team and convinced him to harness his own talents to contribute to something bigger.

Collecting comic books was his passion until his mid-30s, he recalls. He’s read every one he owns at least once, although he liked Superman best. His favorite illustrator was the late George Pérez, and he still chokes up when he recalls meeting him. While he occasionally visits comic book stores and has bought hardbound compilations of books, he realized it was time to donate the fruits of his hobby. Best of all, Southwestern’s current and future students, researchers, and faculty can now enjoy them in the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center’s Distinctive Collections.