The Ventura County Educators’ Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the inductees for its Class of 2017. The members of the Class of 2017 are as follows:
Dr. Jerry Miller has left his mark—specifically a U–on education in Ventura County.
CLU got its “U” during his tenure as president 1981-92, going from a college to a university to better accommodate its growing graduate programs in business and education. In addition, under Dr. Miller’s leadership California Lutheran University received a 10-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and was ranked by the U.S. News and World Report among the top 25 comprehensive institutions in the Western United States. Following his term as president, Dr. Miller held the office of chancellor and led CLU’s development activities.
Among his many awards and recognitions for his work, Dr. Miller was given the Christus Award at the CLU Founder’s Day in 2012. The Christus Award is presented to those who have made significant contributions to strengthening the partnership between CLU and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America because of their love for both institutions.
Colleagues and co-workers praise him for his positive attitude, boundless energy, and commitment to serving others while making the Ventura County community better and stronger.
Dr. Miller’s long career took him from Massachusetts, to Ohio and to Illinois, before he finally settled in Ventura County in sunny Southern California.
He earned a bachelor’s degree at Harvard University in 1953, his master of divinity at Hamma School of Theology, Springfield, Ohio, and his doctor of divinity at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Miller started as a Lutheran pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving to national office for the church. He became assistant to the President of the Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church in America before moving to become Executive Director of the National Lutheran Campus Ministry in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1981, Dr. Miller was elected President of California Lutheran College. During his years as president, he established an updated curriculum. He also focused on expanding the campus, not only as university president but as chancellor. He was instrumental in coordinating the addition of major buildings including the Pearson Library, Preus-Brandt forum, Peters Hall classrooms, Ahmanson Science Center, Samuelson Chapel, Alumni Hall and Potenberg Residence Hall.
Not content to languish in retirement, Dr. Miller has been an active volunteer participant in the Conejo Valley and Ventura County. He has been a board member for Los Robles Regional Medical Center, the Red Cross, United Way of Ventura County, Conejo Future Foundation, YMCA, Conejo Valley Historical Society, Many Mansions, Senior Concerns, Ventura County Economic Development Association, Stage Coach Inn Museum Foundation and various other organizations. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, Harvard Club of Southern California and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks.
Dr. Miller has been the recipient of the Patrick Henry Citizenship Medal from the Military Order of World Wars and Don Triunfo Award for community leadership from the Conejo Valley Historical Society. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World. He was honored by the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce as Volunteer of the Year.
Jerry Miller
Roland Glover
Over the years Roland Glover has worked tirelessly to bring equality to everyone in Ventura County through education.
Among his many initiatives, Glover, then an Affirmative Action Coordinator for the Ventura Community College District, started a “grow your own” project in 1991 using a $14,517 grant from the state chancellor’s office and $6,000 in state college staff development funds. The program trained women and minority graduate students to become instructors. The underlying concept being that Ventura County has a wealth of young talent capable to leading in the classroom.
Glover was a professor and a director for the Ventura County Community College District from 1967 to 1992. Glover served at St. John’s Seminary. He was a speech coach at Oxnard College leading his team to top honors in the Boardman Annual Forensic Tournament in 2004. Glover also coached speech at other elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.
Most recently, in 2016, Glover was named a Don by the Pleasant Valley Historical Society, which names people each year who best represent the Camarillo community as Dons and Doñas.
Glover has volunteered at the Camarillo State Hospital and California Youth Authority, as well as for other organizations.
His work in Affirmative Action, as a speech coach and as a teacher has far-reaching over the years. Glover has been received many honors including: Teacher of the Year at Moorpark College for four consecutive years; Pleasant Valley Education Foundation Uncompromising Dedication Award; Heart of Gold Award by Oxnard College Foundation; Appreciation Award
presented the Latino faculty and staff at Oxnard College; Filipino Community Award of Ventura County; Summit Award presented by the Ventura Chapter of the Jack and Jill Organization; Educator of the Year Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Community Hero Award; recognition from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors as a Champion for Cultural and Ethnic Diversity in Ventura County; the John Vasconcellos Special Award from the Board of Governors of the California State Community Colleges; a commendation from the city of Oxnard for Promoting Cultural Diversity; and many other accolades and commendations.
Former students praise Roland Glover for his ability to encourage them toward self-acceptance, belief in themselves and achievement of their dreams. His teaching style was challenging, thought-provoking, stimulating and designed to engage all students in meaningful subjects and dialogues. In addition to his instruction in speech and related topics, his teaching in sociology brought a depth of understanding to this complex field of study.
When asked to participate as an advisor to various community organizations, he agreed and worked with the city of Camarillo to plan a new city hall; the planning of Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations; and the selection committee for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Dept.
Coupling innovative teaching and his caring nature with extraordinary vision and leadership, Richard Bellman left an indelible, positive impression on students and staff alike in his 38 years as an educator at Rio Mesa High School. Dick, as he is known to his friends and colleagues, not only changed the lives of the people around him, but also helped transform the climate and culture of an entire institution.
Dick wore many hats in his time at Rio Mesa—Coach, Activities Director, Dean of Students, Science Department Chair; but in each of these positions, he was always a teacher first. He made the Life Sciences come alive for students in his Biology and Physiology classes, connecting labs and dissections to their lives in meaningful ways. He also developed a sense of social and environmental awareness in his young charges, and fostered a desire in them for constructive change in these areas. Dick’s colleagues recognized his gifts in this area, and for the last 15 years of his career he was chosen by them to be the Science Department Chairperson.
In the decade from 1981-91, the school flourished in all things “extra-curricular” under Dick’s deft leadership as Director of Activities. His boundless energy and relentless passion were contagious, and the climate of the school turned in a decidedly positive direction. The number of clubs on campus increased twofold during this period, and dances, lunchtime activities, rallies and Homecoming were meticulously planned for fun and success. Dick was instrumental in fostering school spirit, pride and a sense of community in a school that had no physical community around it. Because of his obvious success in this area, Dick was appointed to the Board of Directors of the California Association of Directors of Activities, and he was honored with CADA’s Outstanding Service Award in 1992.
Dick’s influence, however, was not limited to the students. He regularly held staff workshops on strategies for school improvement. Team and asset building were common themes, and the philosophy that “attitude is a choice” was ever-present. While staff development activities are often less than popular among teachers, Dick’s presentations were engaging and fun, and they had a noticeable influence on campus climate. Over time, Dick became a sought-after speaker, providing instruction to teachers and staff not only locally, but nationwide.
A true educator, Dick has continued to serve Ventura County residents after his retirement. He was the President of the Oxnard Union High School District Retirees’ Association and a Volunteer Naturalist for the Channel Islands National Park/Marine Sanctuary, and he currently serves as an American Red Cross Disaster response Captain. To this day, he continues to receive accolades, hold community leadership positions, advocate for fellow educators, volunteer time and philanthropy, and offer a ready smile and optimistic outlook wherever he goes.
Dick and his wife Sharon, herself a 30-year educator, live in Camarillo, and have two adult children, Jennifer and Greg.
