Dr. Sonja Miller Named SUNY DEISJ Fellow
November 6, 2026
Hudson Valley Community College Instructor of Psychology Dr. Sonja Miller has been selected for the fourth cohort of the State University of New York’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice (DEISJ) Fellows.
One of 10 faculty members selected from across SUNY's 64 colleges and universities, Dr. Miller joins a fellowship designed to support the continued implementation of SUNY's DEISJ General Education Requirement. The program helps faculty develop and share course resources, strengthen instruction and build collaboration among educators across the SUNY system.
Dr. Miller brings more than 30 years of teaching and clinical experience to the fellowship. Her academic career includes appointments at the University at Albany, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Siena College and The College of Saint Rose. She holds a doctorate in psychopathology and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Aix-Marseille University in France, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience from Davidson College.
A subject matter expert and Open Educational Resources author for Lumen Learning, Dr. Miller specializes in health psychology, abnormal psychology, cultural psychology and equity-centered pedagogy. Her clinical experience includes work in skilled nursing, palliative care, infectious diseases and addiction treatment.
“Dr. Miller brings a wealth of experience and a thoughtful perspective to this important work,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Michael Brophy. “Her selection reflects the expertise of our faculty and their contributions to student learning across SUNY.”
As a SUNY DEISJ Fellow, Dr. Miller will develop an individual or collaborative teaching project, gather and share resources for DEISJ courses, and support faculty and campuses as they develop and teach courses that meet the SUNY General Education requirements.
Dr. Miller hosted an Oct. 30 regional workshop at Hudson Valley that featured interactive sessions focused on translating DEISJ principles into meaningful educational and workplace practices. Presenters explored workplace allyship, LGBTQ+ inclusion, racial equity in learning outcomes, DEISJ within the criminal justice system, engaging teaching practices, social justice in engineering, and diversity, belonging, and persistence in STEM.
Speakers included President of the SUNY Faculty Council of Community Colleges Candice Vacin and Hudson Valley Chief Diversity Officer Ainsley Thomas. Partners included the Center for Professional Development and DEISJ Fellow Dr. Jessica Best of Adirondack Community College.