Portola Valley resident receives Humanitarian Award | Press Releases

The Fairfield University Alumni Association awarded Jennifer Miller, of Portola Valley, the William J. Kramer '60 Humanitarian Award on April 16 for her outstanding commitment and service to the national student-run Face AIDS organization. This award is presented annually to a senior based on dedication to volunteerism to an external community activity that best exemplifies the Ignatian tradition of serving others. Fellow Fairfield University senior Marco Ambrosio was also honored with the award.

In the fall of 2006, Miller approached Ambrosio about starting a Fairfield University Face AIDS chapter, and the two were able to employ their contacts and expertise to accelerate the club approval process to make the chapter official. The organization raises money for HIV and AIDS programs in Africa and works in conjunction with AIDS activist Dr. Paul Farmer's organization, Partners in Health.

Miller's childhood friend, Jonny Dorsey, a Stanford University student, and two other students founded the national organization that now has 160 chapters and has raised $650,000 for Partners in Health. The Fairfield chapter raised $22,500, with matching funds, through the sales of hand-made pins and other activities.

Miller was a key leader in organizing a national Face AIDS conference that took place on Fairfield's campus in February, featuring Stephen Lewis, an international leader in the fight against AIDS. The conference was a huge success. More than 120 people attended the keynote address and 70 students from more than 25 universities from across the country participated in workshops on AIDS and leadership skills.

Miller's hard work and undying commitment have made her peers aware of the devastation caused by the AIDS epidemic, as well as the issues of gender inequality and the injustices associated with it. She has spoken about AIDS in several classes to let students know that they can make a difference.

Miller, who is graduating with a degree in marketing and a minor in English, has accepted a job at Google in California.