PROFESSOR JAMES MILLER
Ex-Officio, Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Professor James Miller FRSE was appointed as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in November 2022.
Beginning his career as a clinical nurse in Edinburgh, Professor Miller is the first nurse to be appointed as a University Principal and Vice-Chancellor in Scotland – bringing a wealth of experience, values and vision closely aligned with that of UWS.
Professor Miller has also held a series of roles in healthcare, including Deputy Director of Nursing for West Lothian Healthcare Trust and Divisional General Manager in South Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust.
After completing his registration at North Lothian College of Nursing and Midwifery in 1986, Professor Miller undertook a post registration degree at what is now Abertay University. He also has an MBA from Edinburgh Napier University, a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and is an alumnus of Harvard University’s Institute of Education Management.
Professor Miller has been a visiting lecturer at four Scottish universities, teaching on undergraduate and Masters programmes in nursing, healthcare management and clinical leadership. He has published in peer-reviewed national and international journals on a range of clinical and management issues in healthcare and is a regular reviewer for several journals.
Professor Miller was Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University from August 2015 to November 2022 and previously held a range of other senior roles, including Director of the Open University in Scotland and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a member of the International Advisory Board for the Amity University Group in India and was a founder member of the British Council’s Digital Advisory Board.
In 2023, James was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He holds board positions with a range of HE associated institutions, including the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, the Association of Commonwealth Universities Council and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). James also contributes to the boards of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice. A former Convener of Universities Scotland’s International Committee as well as the Learning and teaching Committee he was elected as the overall Convener of Universities Scotland and Vice-President of Universities UK in August 2025.
Committee Membership:
Chair of the Honorary Awards Committee
Member of Governance & Nominations and Resources & People Committee
Last updated: 01/08/2025