Meet Molly Miller, vice president of regulatory and technical affairs for the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA). In her position, Miller engages with food safety regulations, research advocacy, and supports NAMA’s positions on changing food policy. She is a valuable member of the USWBSI Steering Committee and actively participates in advocacy work on behalf of the USWBSI.

Growing up in the Army Leads to Career in Agriculture

Miller grew up the child of an Army veteran with her dad serving 20 years in the military. During this time the family was mostly stationed in the southeastern part of the United States with stints in Missouri and Hawaii. Both of Miller’s parents were familiar with farming having grown up around their grandparents whom farmed full-time. While attending high school in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, her parents pushed her to try out for Agriscience Fair as a freshman. She loved this new adventure in the FFA’s and eventually served as a chapter and area officer. While in the FFA, she had the opportunity to participate in many career development events at the state and national level and eventually earned her American degree, the highest achievement in the FFA.

After high school, Miller attended the University of Georgia studying agricultural education. However, she decided that teaching was not the path for her and switched to a career in civil service with the Environmental Protection Agency regulating pesticides. After serving nine years with the EPA, she changed positions and started working for a chemical company in various roles including, regulatory, industry affairs, and lobbying for eight years. She joined NAMA almost three years ago to return to the food and agricultural industry and has found a great community.

Advocating to Advance Priorities Together

Miller loves bringing together agriculture, academia, and industry as part of her job to advance priorities. “Milling is the link between grain and goodness and we are at a critical part of the supply chain to have a voice across those areas,” said Miller. NAMA members prioritize research advocacy to advance small grain variety development as well as solve food safety challenges to be able to source abundant high-quality grain with a low risk of mycotoxins contaminating the food supply chain.

This year, under Miller’s leadership, during NAMA’s annual fly-in to Washington D.C. they included USWBSI’s delayed funding as one of their priorities to make sure that Congress understood the impact of the USWBSI’s work and ensure the funds appropriated were distributed for FY25. After months of advocating along with the American Malting Barley Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers, they were successful in convincing the USDA-ARS to distribute 100% of the funding appropriated to the USWBSI for FY25. Miller believes this is one of her biggest accomplishments since joining NAMA.

Strengthening Connections during the National FHB Forum

Miller will be providing the Industry Perspective presentation titled, “Industry Relationships with Research Are More Important Than Ever,” during the Opening Session of the 2025 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum in Denver, Colorado on December 7. She is also facilitating an Advocacy Workshop with Ashley McFarland, on Monday, December 8, which will help attendees learn how to strengthen connections with policymakers and stakeholders to amplify the collective voice of the FHB research community.

Miller can be reached at her NAMA email mmiller@namamillers.org.

To learn more about others in the FHB community, check out all the previous USWBSI Featured Researchers/Advocates.