ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US – US Wheat Associates (USW) announced on Aug. 1 that it has promoted Catherine Miller to director of programs. Miller joined USW in 2018 as program and planning coordinator and shifted to programs coordinator in 2021 to reflect structural changes.

 “Catherine has done a great job in managing many of USW’s domestic programs, and she excelled in helping USW transition to virtual programming after the COVID-19 pandemic began,” said Erica Oakley, vice president of programs at USW. “This promotion recognizes her hard work and dedication to USW and US wheat farmers.”

Miller will lead program support for coordinating trade teams, short courses and board teams with USW’s overseas offices and state wheat commissions. She also will work closely with USW’s overseas staff to identify consultant needs and coordinate annual crop quality seminars. Miller will continue supporting USW’s shift toward virtual programs since the COVID-19 pandemic, including an active role in conducting monthly webinars and crop updates.

Miller joined USW after graduating cum laude from Auburn University in May 2017, receiving a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business and economics. A native of Virginia, she gained experience as a Pathways intern for the US Department of Agriculture at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), where she developed reports for USDA-supported activities in food safety and climate change and worked with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.

USW is the export market development organization for the US wheat industry. USW is financed through producer checkoff dollars managed by 17 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by the Foreign Agricultural Service of the USDA. USW maintains 15 offices strategically located around the world with activities in more than 100 countries to support all six US wheat classes.