Intro
I’m Steven Miller, a graduate student pursuing an MFA in documentary film at DePaul University. I am focused on crafting the art of historical documentary as a history researcher, educator, and filmmaker.
Before transferring to DePaul, I attended University of Minnesota, Twin Cities for undergrad (BA) and the beginning of my PhD—both in history. My research focuses on United States social and political history from 1960 to 1975. I am particularly interested in the Vietnam War era and the Nixon administration. More broadly, I am interested in how these social and political movements shaped political processes during this era.
Beyond academia, I have a passion for skateboarding, exploring hiking trails, and urban photography. I also enjoy traveling and visiting historical sites, which adds valuable dimension to my life and work.
In addition to my work in academia, I have co-founded a historical research and archiving startup which works with non-profits and corporations to perform archival research and tell the historical story of the organization culminating in a creative historical narrative. The work typically results in an exhibition project.
Courses Taught
HIST 1811 THE SIXTIES: HISTORY AND MEMORIES
This course traces the development of the 1960s and the first four years of the 1970s in United States politics and society. With a focus on civil rights, presidential politics, the Vietnam War, and a special focus on the Nixon Administration and Watergate, students in this course will learn about emerging themes of the period which culminate in the Watergate Scandal and the downfall of the Nixon Administration.
This 3 credit course was taught by Steven Miller at University of Minnesota in Fall 2023.
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
Very passionate and engaging lecturer. Was able to tell moments in history like stories rather than reading off of slides, which made this class very interesting. -S.F., 2023
Steven has been a very great lecturer for this class. He made the course more interesting than it had been before, by explaining the history with more than just reading off notes, but by talking about the events with passion making you feel as if you were at the events he was talking about. As someone who is not very familiar with history, his method of lecturing has been the most beneficial for me when it comes to understanding the material that he is teaching as he makes it both informative and very interesting to listen to. His lecturing makes me actually interested in a class that I wasn’t overall very interested in prior to the class. Overall, very great lecture. -M.R., 2023
His passion for the material shows and he makes us think critically about how different events may have impacted one another in a very creative and experimental way that gets everyone very engaged and involved. -B.L., 2023
Steven presented the material in a way that kept me engaged and I felt like I left with a good understanding of the topics we discussed. He interacted with the class and asked our opinions which I felt not only kept us engaged but helped us comprehend the material in a way that made sense as opposed to just taking in information. -K.K., 2023
I enjoyed his passion about the information and energy in prompting students to engage with it. The assignments were interesting and the grading was lenient as long as you put in effort. Overall a great experience. -S.T., 2023
Thesis
For my MFA thesis, I will produce a thirty-minute historical documentary which tells the story of an American corporation in the early twentieth century which contributed to dramatic political and social change in the United States and abroad. After my thesis defense, the film will be prepared for a public screening.