When David Miller (Indiana University, ‘71) jokes about his post-retirement schedule, it comes with a knowing smile.
In Miller’s case, “work” now is a long list of volunteer roles that would put most people’s calendars to shame. That list stands at: Alumni Advisor to the Alpha-Omicron Zeta of Indiana University, serving on several IU boards, managing the mentoring program for the Wrestling team at Wabash College, moderating a prelaw group at IU, and guiding students toward careers in law, medicine, and beyond.
It’s a pace he’s thrived on, and it all traces back to the decision he made more than 50 years ago in Bloomington.
Miller’s father was a Lambda Chi at Indiana University, so when Miller arrived as a freshman in the fall of 1968, he was already familiar with the Chapter. A friend of his father’s son invited him to dinner at the house, and by January 1969, Miller had joined and moved into the Chapter house.
Those undergraduate years brought him more than a college experience, they shaped his life. He met his wife during a sorority event in the Chapter’s informal lounge. On top of that, he formed a tight-knit group of 10-20 Brothers who remain in regular contact to this day.
Miller majored in political science, aiming for the U.S. Foreign Service. When that door didn’t open, he found a path in federal service with the National Labor Relations Board, later earning his law degree from IU – Indianapolis while continuing to work full time. Reflecting back, he sees a direct line between his success and the skills honed in the Fraternity.
“You don’t realize it at the time,” Miller said, “but you’re learning how to live with and get along with a diverse group of people, each with their own wants and needs. You learn how to work toward something together. That’s a skill that’s essential to get anywhere in life.”
Programing events, managing budgets, and coordinating details were all staples of his campus and Fraternity involvement. These activities would come to provide a foundation for his career in law and public service.
Miller’s deep involvement with students began through his son, a Lambda Chi and wrestler at Wabash College. Weekends at matches and visits to the Fraternity house led to informal mentoring of students interested in his career path of law, medicine, or entrepreneurship.
Those informal meetings grew into a formal mentoring program for the Wabash Wrestling team, a role he still holds 20 years later. When Miller returned to IU in 2013 to take undergraduate classes, the pull toward involvement became inevitable. Before long, he was mentoring students, working with campus programs, and stepping into a leadership role with the Chapter’s Alumni Advisory Board.
Miller’s experience is a reminder of how vital volunteers are to the success of a Chapter. Alumni Advisors, House Corporation members, High Pis, and Alumni Advisory Board members bring stability, guidance, and resources that Undergraduate Members can’t find anywhere else. And, as Miller is quick to point out, you don’t have to be a Lambda Chi Alumnus (or even be located in the same area) to make a difference.
The Alpha-Omicron Zeta Alumni Advisory Board now includes over 10 Members, many living far beyond Bloomington.
“Our board has people from Minnesota, North Carolina, Colorado, and Pennsylvania,” Miller said. “One of the best additions we’ve made is a woman who was never in Lambda Chi. She brings a perspective we never would’ve never had without her.”
This philosophy is exactly what Lambda Chi Alpha’s Volunteer Support initiatives are built on recruiting passionate, skilled volunteers who can guide and mentor Undergraduates, regardless of their location or even prior affiliation within the Fraternity.
Over the past year, the Volunteer Support Team at Lambda Chi Alpha has laid the groundwork for a bold goal of attaining and maintaining over 2,000 active Advisors and Volunteers across the organization by the end of the 2026 fiscal year. The current count is at around 700 Advisors. This means the team needs to recruit triple the current volunteer base. It’s an ambitious undertaking, but one rooted in necessity.
Technology has made it easier than ever for volunteers to mentor, advise, and share their expertise from anywhere. The need is real: strong volunteer engagement directly impacts Chapter health, leadership development, and the overall Member experience. To learn more about this campaign, please click here.
When asked why he’s devoted so much time to volunteering, Miller doesn’t hesitate to open up.
“When I came to IU, I needed a place to belong. I didn’t even know that’s what I needed. Lambda Chi gave me a home, a group that accepted me as I was. That’s a debt you have to repay” Miller said. “What’s hard for them is easy for me. If a young Alumnus wants to get into a certain field, I can connect him with people in that field. That’s nothing for me, but it could be life-changing for him.”
His “repayment” takes many forms from connecting students to professional contacts, guiding them through life’s challenges, or simply just being present as a mentor.
Miller makes it clear to new Associate Members that the true depth of Brotherhood often comes later.
“I tell them, the wheels come off the bus at some point in your life, it’s just the nature of life,” Miller proclaimed. “But these guys will be with you forever. They will always be there to help you put the wheels back on the bus and support you in whatever way you need, and that’s what I found.”
In his office, Miller keeps two photos: one of his Fraternity group in 1969, and another taken with nearly the same group 40 years later. The faces have aged, but the connection is unchanged. For Miller, giving his time to Lambda Chi Alpha and the students of IU isn’t a chore, but rather a continuation of something that began more than half a century ago.
Whether you see yourself as a High Pi, an Advisory Board Member, or a facilitator who helps educate and mentor the next generation, there’s a role that fits your life and your passion. Will you join us as a volunteer and help our Undergraduate Brothers to lead ethical lives of growth, service, and leadership?
The Volunteer Team can plug you in to where you fit best. To learn more or express interest, reach out to the Volunteer Support Team at alumni@lambdachi.org.
