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UC Mourns Passing of Longtime Professor
Doris "Mother" Miga Mentored So Many
Miga shared a 50-year history with Utica College
Contact - cleogrande@utica.edu
Utica, NY (11/18/2014) - It is with great sadness that Utica College acknowledges the passing of Doris Wester Miga, professor emerita of sociology and trustee emerita, on Nov. 17 at the age of 87.A life-long resident of the Mohawk Valley, Miga earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany in 1948 and a master’s degree from Syracuse University in 1970. She began her teaching career at the high school level in 1948.
In 1963, Miga was named a part-time lecturer at Utica College, and a full-time professor in 1993. She retired from UC in 1997 after 34 years, and was named an emerita professor of sociology, and she continued to teach at the college on a part-time basis for many years.
Until recently, Miga taught local senior citizens' groups and received the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement (MVILP) Outstanding Facilitator Award. She was an expert in the study of what she called "successful utopias," and she was tireless in educating the local community on the Quakers, Mormons, Shakers, old-order Amish, Hutterites and her favorite topic, the Oneida Community.
During her tenure as a professor, Miga served on and chaired many committees, including Faculty Affairs, Academic Standards and Curriculum. She was also the Nexus coordinator for many years, and she served on the Presidential Search Committee from 1997 to 1998, and was the presiding officer of the College Council.
Miga was recognized with a number accolades during her 50-year career at Utica College, including the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1980, the National Alumni Council Outstanding Faculty Award in 1988, the Honorary Alumnae Award in 2003 and the National Alumni Council Pioneer Legacy Award in 2012. In 2010, Professor Miga was inducted into the Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame for her many years as a mentor to the Utica College basketball teams.
Additionally, Miga had a longstanding history of service and philanthropy to the college. She was a member of the Utica College Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2006, and she was granted trustee emerita status in 2007. Miga and her late husband Walter, who passed away in January 2013, were members of UC’s Oneida Square Society at the State Street level, which recognizes major donors.
In 1990, Miga's family and friends established the Doris Wester Miga Scholarship to be awarded to a valedictorian or member of the National Honor Society who wants to pursue a career in teaching. She supported the scholarship annually and made it her personal goal to be recognized as the college's first donor at the beginning of every new fiscal year.
In addition to her service to UC, Miga was active in a variety of community causes. Her involvement included being a former member of the St. Luke's Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, the Utica Senior Day Center Board of Directors and the Lutheran Homes Foundation Board. She was involved with the American Association of University Women, as well as the Delta Kappa Gamma Society of Women Educators where she served as president from 1973 to 1974 and on the Board of Directors from 1975 to 1976.
Professor Miga was active in sociological and gerontological associations and was credited with helping develop UC's first gerontology course.
Miga truly reflected an unparalleled commitment to UC’s students and the institution itself. She mentored countless young professors and used "tough love" to hold students to the highest standards, earning the nickname "Mother Miga" and gathering a devoted following of former students. It was because of her stewardship, dedication and service that Miga was awarded a Utica College honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, at the May 2014 Commencement Ceremony.
Professor Miga leaves two sons, Wester and his wife Lorraine; and Wesley and his wife Karen. She also leaves two grandsons, Ryan and Glenn.
At Miga's request, all arrangements are private and with the family. A complete obituary will appear in the Nov. 19, 2014 edition of the Utica Observer-Dispatch.
