A Legacy of Lifting Others Up

Aretha Miller ’92 was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States with her family during her teen years. Just two years into living in the US, she enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It immediately became her second home.

Once on campus, Aretha discovered New Africa House. At that time, it was a vibrant cultural space. There, she found her community, mingling with other students of color as well as international students—which as an immigrant herself, gave her a vital sense of belonging. New Africa House created an opportunity for her to make deep connections at UMass Amherst.

“UMass helped me to find my voice as an individual,” recalls Aretha. “It helped me to understand the importance of diversity and inclusion even though we did not use that term.”

Aretha, who majored in Spanish, says she inherited a strong sense of service. She is now acting on her values by paving the way for future students through a charitable gift in her will.

The future gift will support the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, the Department of Literature, and scholarships in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The Beryl Watson and Lurlene Embden Fund is named for Aretha’s mother and grandmother. They were major influences on her life, and strong advocates for education.

Aretha’s fond memories of New Africa House, along with her involvement in the International Programs Office at UMass Amherst, have impacted her far beyond her undergraduate days.

She currently owns and operates a boutique consulting firm that coaches nonprofits, schools, and community groups that serve underserved communities to find real, lasting solutions to their toughest problems so they can move forward and thrive independently. It’s a responsibility she does not take lightly, as she continues her work to make education accessible for the next generation.

“UMass allowed me to become the person I am. It’s hard for young people, especially first-generation students, going to college and it’s why I’m doing this. It’s what I can do, to just take a little bit of the pressure off,” said Aretha. “For me, the pressure is associated with the soul-crushing cost of college, and I want to help mitigate this reality for first-generation students who live in the Greater Boston area.”