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Elwood L. Miller is a forester, educator and longtime University leader whose career has been devoted to forestry, conservation, student learning and public service. Before beginning his academic career, he spent 10 years working as an on-the-ground professional forester with the U.S. Forest Service. That practical experience shaped the way he approached forestry education throughout his career, connecting scientific knowledge with the realities of managing forests and natural resources. 

At the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ, Miller became known as an exceptional forestry educator and a dedicated mentor to students. He believed forestry was best understood through direct observation and experience. His teaching encouraged students to step outside the classroom, study living trees and landscapes, and consider how ecological science could inform responsible forest management.

Miller served as chair of the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science during its formative years. In that leadership role, he helped guide the development of natural resources education and strengthened the University’s commitment to forestry and environmental science. He later served for 16 years as associate dean of the College, extending his influence across academic programs, faculty leadership and student success. 

In 1976, Miller received both the College’s and the University’s Outstanding Teacher Award. The recognition reflected his ability to combine scientific knowledge, professional experience and a genuine commitment to his students. 

A licensed professional forester for more than 45 years, Miller remained closely connected to the forestry profession throughout his academic and post-University career. His work reflected a commitment to science-based forest management, conservation and responsible stewardship of natural resources. 

Among his most enduring contributions was the establishment of the Research Grove at the Valley Road Field Lab. Miller envisioned the Grove as a place where students could learn directly from living specimens and observe a variety of tree species growing side by side. That vision created an outdoor educational resource that continues to connect forestry instruction, research and public learning. 

Today, Elwood Miller is Faculty Emeritus in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. In 2026, the College also selected him as its Distinguished Awardee in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the College, the University and the forestry profession. 

The Research Grove was created as a place for learning through observation. Its value lies not only in the trees themselves, but also in the questions, conversations and discoveries they can inspire. As a living classroom, the Grove can support learning at many levels.

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate students can use the Grove to build foundational skills in tree identification, forest ecology and natural resource management. The outdoor setting allows students to connect terminology and concepts introduced in class with living specimens they can observe over time.

Graduate students

Graduate students can use the Grove as a setting for advanced observation, teaching, demonstration and research. It can also provide opportunities to develop questions related to tree growth, physiology, environmental adaptation and long-term landscape performance.

Extension

·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ Extension provides research-based information, programs and training related to Nevada’s forests, woodlands, trees and landscapes. The Grove can complement that mission by offering a setting for demonstrations and educational programs that translate scientific knowledge into practical information for Nevada communities. 

Researchers

For researchers, a collection of tree species growing within a shared environment can provide opportunities for observation and comparison. The Grove may also support demonstrations, pilot studies and long-term documentation of how individual species respond to local environmental conditions.

Community groups

The Grove can provide community organizations, natural resource professionals, gardeners and other visitors with a welcoming place to learn about trees and their role in healthy landscapes. Guided visits and interpretive materials can make forestry and ecological science more accessible to the public.

K–12 visitors

For younger learners, the Grove can turn trees into an approachable introduction to science. Students can practice observation, compare shapes and textures, learn how scientific names are used and explore the relationships among trees, wildlife, water, soil and climate.