HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE MILLER CENTER?

Three years, beginning when we retired to Charlottesville from Portland, Oregon.

WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO THE WORK OF THE MILLER CENTER?

KIP: When we were in Portland, I joined the board of the World Affairs Council, whose mission was education on global affairs. When we came to Charlottesville, I was looking to replicate that experience. I wanted something interactive and personal, where I could keep learning. The Miller Center offers that. And the fact that the Center attracts speakers from D.C. and elsewhere—that’s a plus for us. It’s access that we’d normally have only through television.

ELIZABETH: We’d also seen some of the Miller Center’s work on C-SPAN. And the Center’s connection with Jim Lehrer [a board member and legendary journalist who passed away earlier this year] was also appealing. And we’re drawn to the Center’s commitment to be nonpartisan.

The Center’s work to challenge the political system and analyze the presidency is also so important, especially during a crisis like we’ve had this year.

WHY HAVE YOU REMAINED LOYAL SUPPORTERS?

KIP: We go to as many Miller Center events as possible. It’s important to us that the Center organizes and provides these lectures, interviews, and symposia at no charge for the community and students. We want to support that. The Center’s work to challenge the political system and analyze the presidency is also so important, especially during a crisis like we’ve had this year.

ELIZABETH: Yes, it was terrific that the Miller Center continued lectures, even though everything had to be done remotely. We still get a lot out of the online webinars and appreciate the efforts to keep programming going.