Fall Commencement: Sociology student to represent College

December 11, 2019 - Karessa Weir

If Lynnea Miller learned one thing in her time as a Sociology major at MSU, it is the importance of diversity.

 “It’s given me the chance to be the minority in the room and that’s something everyone should experience,” she said.

Now Miller will be representing the Department of Sociology as the official College of Social Science flag bearer at the fall undergraduate commencement ceremony. The undergraduate ceremonies for College of Social Science take place at 10 a.m. Saturday Dec. 14 at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Doug Meijer, who sits on the board of directors of Meijer Inc. will be the featured speaker. For those who can’t attend in person, the ceremonies will be live streamed here.

 “I am so humbled to represent this college and the sociology department,” Lynnea said. “All of my experiences here have been really good.”

 Lynnea, 21, is the daughter of Todd and Jennifer Miller and sister of Brandt Miller, currently attending law school. They will be in the audience—along with an extended family group of aunts, uncles, and grandparents—as Lynnea carries the College flag across the stage in the Breslin Center Saturday.

 Lynnea was chosen as flag bearer on the merits of her high grade point average, wide variety of activities, and her engagement with the department, said undergraduate advisor Regan Kania.

 “Lynnea exemplifies our mission of creating enlightened citizens and lifelong learners,” said Chair Dr. Aaron M. McCright. “We wish her success as she continues her path of engaging with and affirming the lives of many.”

 The Batavia, Illinois resident came to MSU as an education major but spending her summer after freshmen year working at Covenant Point Bible College convinced her that what she really wanted to do was go into ministry. She knew she needed to switch majors but wasn’t sure where to go. Her favorite course at that point had been Human Diversity and when she brought it up with her mother, Jennifer Miller said “that sounds like Sociology to me.”

 She returned to State and discussed it with a career advisor who also happened to be a Sociology graduate.

 “I learned how applicable the study of Sociology can be to what I wanted to do,” she said.

 Sticking with Sociology has worked out really well for her, especially since meeting Dr. Sarah Prior, Assistant Professor. One of her earliest Sociology classes was Sex and Gender, and she went on to take Dr. Prior’s Youth and Society as well.

 “(Dr. Prior) does such a great job and helped me fall in love with all that Sociology can offer,” Lynnea said. “Sociology has taught me how to think about the world differently and to consider things from different perspectives.”

 Currently, Lynnea is deciding between two internships back in Illinois, one of which is youth ministry in her hometown church of Batavia Covenant Church. She is excited to return to the Chicago area and hopes to get some work experience before possibly attending seminary school. Her long-term goal is to be a lead senior pastor.

 Lynnea also hopes to continue her musical career. She played violin in the concert orchestra at MSU and is a member of the campus choir. She also is active in Campus Ministry where she leads Bible study and plays the drums.