R. Bryan Miller, chair of the Academic Senate and professor of chemistry at the University of California, Davis, collapsed and died Thursday, Oct. 29, at Los Angeles International Airport. Professor Miller, 58, was awaiting a return flight to Sacramento after attending a UC-wide meeting of faculty leaders at UCLA. "I am deeply saddened," said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Robert D. Grey. "This is a personal loss for all of us and a great loss for the university. Bryan stood for the highest of faculty values. He was a scholar, a teacher, and a model citizen of the campus, always giving generously of his time and talent for the betterment of the university. I know Chancellor Vanderhoef, who is being informed of Bryan's death while on his trip to Asia, shares my admiration for his leadership and my grief at the loss of a friend. We both counted it a privilege to have worked closely with him. Our hearts go out to Francesca and Bryan's family." An expert in synthetic organic chemistry, Professor Miller was most recently pursuing research in environmental chemistry and remediation processes and the design of compounds with enhanced anti-cancer properties. Professor Miller joined the UC Davis faculty in 1968, serving as chair of the chemistry department from 1985 to 1990. In 1990-91, he was a visiting scientist in the chemistry division of the National Science Foundation, and from 1992 to 1995 served as an NSF program officer. He was appointed chair of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate in 1997, working closely with faculty and campus administrators on such major policy issues as time-to-degree enrollment planning, improvement of the undergraduate curriculum and support of faculty research needs. "Bryan was a warm and gentle person, a good friend and a man of high principle who was totally dedicated to the university," said Peter A. Rock, dean of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. "His death is a great loss for us all." Added Claude F. Meares, chair of the chemistry department: "Professor Miller was a role model for younger faculty in the way he embraced the teaching, research and service mission of the campus. He was a great mentor to his students, with many of them going on to achieve great excellence and recognition in their own right." One former student, Professor Carlos G. Gutierrez of California State University, Los Angeles, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in 1997 from President Clinton. Gutierrez wrote to Professor Miller: "Your style of working with your research students is one which I valued then, and try to emulate now as a teacher. You treated us with decency, respect and warmth, expecting that we would succeed in chemistry through hard work and intelligence and creativity. I have modeled my interactions with my students after that which I received from you." Professor Miller received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Washington and Lee University in 1962 and a doctorate in chemistry from Rice University in 1967. He was the author of many scholarly publications. He is survived by his wife, Francesca; stepdaughter Cesca Wellman, 36, of Santa Rosa; stepson Arthur Wellman, 35, of San Diego; mother Dorothy Miller and brothers David Miller and Bargie Miller, all of Houston. Visitation will take place Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. Services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 640 Hawthorne Lane, in Davis.