Ron Millar
Associate Director,
Secular Coalition for America

Ron Millar earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Virginia Tech, and his doctoral research project was awarded the 2006 University Outstanding Dissertation in the Social Sciences. Coalition Networks and Policy Learning: Interest Groups on the Losing Side of Legal Change examines the evolution of legal arguments used by the coalition of organizations filing legal briefs opposing government aid to sectarian elementary and secondary schools. The legal briefs analyzed came from 16 U.S. Supreme Court cases starting with Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) and ending with Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002).

Prior to pursuing his degree, Ron held administrative positions at the National Research Council/The National Academies and the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University. He has also been active in a broad range of progressive issues including reproductive rights, affordable housing, environmental protection, and voting rights. From his political activities, he gained experience lobbying at the local, state, and national levels and managing political campaigns. For several years, Ron owned and published a monthly journal, the District Council Journal, analyzing the activities of the D.C. Council, and the DCJ Legislative Tracking Service, following the progress of bills introduced by members of the Council.

Born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ron received his B.A. in political science from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and relocated to Washington, D.C. to intern for the Multinational Monitor, a Ralph Nader-affiliated monthly magazine. He is currently a resident of northern Virginia.