Kyle Thompson hated Northern Kentucky University – until he met Danny Miller.

In summer 2007, Thompson was working at the Party Source in Newport as a cashier. Miller came through the line and Thompson saw his NKU ID. He asked Miller if he was a professor. Miller responded that he was chair of the English Department and asked Thompson how he felt about NKU.

“I said ‘I go to NKU, but I’m not really into it that much,'” Thompson said. “He said ‘I’ll make you an English major and you’ll love it.'”

The now senior English major hasn’t looked back.

“I’ve really had a passion for it,” he said. Without Miller’s guidance, Thompson said, “I would’ve never thought I could be where I’m at now.”

Miller, who had worked at NKU’s English Department since 1981 and held its chair since 2000, died Nov. 9 at Christ Hospital after suffering a stroke Nov. 6. He was 59.

He often reached out to faculty, staff and students regardless of their major, according to Rudy Garns, a professor in the Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy Department.

“Danny was Danny everywhere,” he said. “He always had a hug for you