Commissioner Interview: Lt. Governor Aruna Miller
This month, we had the pleasure of speaking with our very own Lieutenant Governor, MD Two Fifty Commissioner Aruna Miller. Miller is the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, the second woman, and the first woman of color and immigrant to serve in this position. At the age of just seven years old, Miller moved with her family from Andhra Pradesh, India to the United States. Since her arrival, Miller has always taken note of the many opportunities and people that have helped propel her to where she is today – from her first neighbors here in the states who helped her family learn about their new home, to the teachers who taught her English, to the to the public investments in higher education that helped her earn a civil engineering degree at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Miller’s family faced financial hardship, but Pell Grants helped open the door to higher education.
“When you graduate knowing that there were so many people that lifted you up to get you where you’ve gotten, that you came to this country as an immigrant and so many policies led to opportunities for your family, yourself, and your siblings, you want to give back.” said Lt. Governor Miller.
Public service was Miller’s way of giving back.
Prior to serving in elected office, Lt. Governor Miller worked as a transportation engineer in Montgomery County. Influenced by her father, a mechanical engineer, she liked seeing the projects she worked on come to life.
“You get to see the product of your work right before your eyes,” she shared. “Whether it’s a sidewalk, a bike path, a transit line or a bridge you’ve been involved in, you get to see it.”
Lt. Governor Miller recalls one project—a sidewalk near a women’s shelter—that was sorely needed, but was facing too much red tape. She told her team to push forward anyways.
“I said, ‘go build that sidewalk. If somebody comes and yells at me because we’re on their property, I’ll deal with it,’” said Lt. Governor Miller. “They built that sidewalk… Now those women don’t have to go and walk in the middle of the road.”
Lt. Governor Miller is extremely passionate about her work serving Marylanders. She shared with us that providing disadvantaged community members access to resources such as job opportunities and transportation is something she feels very strongly about. When it comes to job access, Lt. Governor Miller says that the fear of the unknown can be a major obstacle to the goals we wish to achieve. As Lt. Governor, sheaims to help those without access navigate their path to a better future. She says she wants to open doorways for those who just need a boost, even suggesting opportunities in her office as a potential starting point.
“Most of the time, what’s held me back in life has been my own fears,” she said., “But if you have the right heart, and if you’re passionate about what you’re doing, it’s amazing how the universe opens up for you.”
Lt. Governor Miller is also very passionate about ensuring that all communities in Maryland have access to transportation.
“Transportation provides access to schools, jobs, places of worship, and allows us to connect with communities,” she said.
She specifically notes returning citizens, who often struggle to maintain employment due to lack of transportation to the overnight jobs they are often hired for.
Lt. Governor Miller also named mental health awareness as another key priority.
“Mental health is one of these things that we just sweep underneath the rug and try to pretend it doesn’t exist, but it affects our life from the moment we are born until the moment we exit this world,” she said.
Outside of her work, Lt. Governor Miller loves animals, and is a firm believer that animals help improve our everyday lives, especially when it comes to our mental health.
“There is no greater companion to support you mentally, honestly, quietly in every way than an animal,” she shared.
Lt. Governor Miller’s love of animals extends into her daily lifestyle– she and her family are all vegetarians.
When asked about her role as Lieutenant Governor, Lt. Governor Miller shared that she thoroughly enjoys the variety in her schedule. Similar to her time in the engineering field, she told us that no two days are the same, and she prefers it this way.
“I like my day to be as diverse as it can be,” she said.
Lt. Governor Miller says she also loves talking to Marylanders all around the state, and hearing their stories. For Lt. Governor Miller, this is not just a simple part of the role, but a transformative experience.
“They share with you their trials, tribulations and aspirations,” she said. “When you meet them, it changes you. Those stories become a part of who you are.”
In her eight years as a State Delegate, Lt. Governor Miller ensured that when constituents expressed concerns, she would do everything within her power to help.
“It’s been the greatest honor of my life to serve the people of Maryland,” she said.
For Lt. Governor Miller, America means “being able to come to the States and start anew, regardless of where you are from.” As someone who has lived the experience, the Lt. Governor describes America’s promise as one that should not be taken for granted. Regarding the 250th anniversary of the United States, Miller acknowledged the country’s “jagged edges,” referencing the historical mistreatment of Native Americans, African Americans, and the history of the Japanese internment and the Chinese Exclusion Act. Despite this history, she views America as a work in progress with a unique potential for inclusivity and opportunity.
Miller expressed a desire for Marylanders to feel represented in the Maryland 250 celebrations. She emphasized the importance of using the semiquincentennial to learn from the past, celebrate diversity, and foster unity across different regions, cultures, and languages.
“I hope that communities can come together to celebrate what unites us,” she said.
For Marylanders who may feel powerless or disillusioned, Lt. Governor Miller encourages them to get involved in local organizations and efforts they care about. She emphasized that there is no special title or requirement needed in order to give back to one’s community, simply the desire to do so.
“You don’t need a title to make a difference,” she said.
For Lt. Governor Miller, meaningful change starts with ordinary people contributing their talents to uplift others. She stresses that service and democracy are practices to be engaged in daily, rather than just during election cycles, and that a person’s legacy is defined by their impact on the lives of others.
“At the end of the day, when you exit this world, you’re not going to take your promotion, your title, or your money along with you,” said Lt. Governor Miller.
In closing, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller underscored her belief that the purpose of state government is to support the people.. “The first thing I say when I meet with constituents is ‘I work for you, not the other way around,’” she said.
Lt. Governor Miller ended the interview expressing immense gratitude to Marylanders for the privilege of serving them. The Maryland 250 Commission thanks Lt. Governor Miller for her work as a Maryland 250 Commissioner, her service to Maryland, and her commitment to leaving no one behind.