Dr. Jacqueline Y. Miller is internationally recognized for her research and contributions on the Lepidoptera, especially on the biodiversity and biogeography of the butterflies of the West Indies and the Caribbean basin, and also on the neotropical moth family Castniidae. Her research focuses on the life history, systematics, taxonomy, and phylogenetics of Lepidoptera, including fossil Lepidoptera. These investigations have provided clues and/or supportive data to our understanding of the higher taxonomic categories and the evolutionary history of the Lepidoptera.
She has been an active researcher, and has authored or co-authored eight books and more than 148 papers. Dr. Miller received her B.S. degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh, her M.S. in biology from Catholic University of America, and her Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Florida, with a specialization in entomology.
As a member of the curatorial staff of the Allyn Museum of Entomology in Sarasota, Florida, Dr. Miller joined the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, in 1981. She co-taught courses in entomology, biosystematics, and undergraduate thesis tutorials at New College of Florida in Sarasota (1994-2004) as well as short courses on entomology at the College of the Bahamas (1995-1998). In addition, she lectures on the biodiversity and biogeography of Lepidoptera at the University of Florida, and has served on or been chair of more than 23 committees.
Dr. Miller currently serves as the Allyn Curator for Lepidoptera and as the associate director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida. She is a member of three editorial boards and serves as editor of the Bulletin of the Allyn Museum. Dr. Miller recently received a three-year University of Florida research professorship award. She was also recognized in 2005 by the Southern Lepidopterists’ Society with the Abbot Award for her significant contributions to the study of Caribbean Lepidoptera.
Dr. Miller has served the ESA in several leadership positions, including Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Chair of the old Section A (Systematics, 1997-2000); member of the Ethics Committee (2001-2003) and Systematics Resources Committee (1994-1997; 2000-2004); Co-Chair of the Local Arrangements Committee for the Annual Meeting (2001-2002); and member of the Governing Board (2003-2006).
(updated September, 2008)