Working with her husband and two young children in their vegetable garden, shooting an elk in Colorado with her dad or cheering on the Auburn Tigers at a home football game are just some of the things Tipi Colley Miller might be found doing.
Miller's love for the outdoors and her community are exercised weekly in her position as executive director of Keep Opelika Beautiful, a nonprofit organization that provides numerous programs to educate people about cherishing and cleaning up their community.
A native of Opelika herself, Miller graduated from Auburn in 2001 with a degree in logistics.
Miller was taught from an early age to love nature and of the importance of preserving it, and said taking the position "just seemed like a perfect fit."
Faye Ford, president of Keep Opelika Beautiful and senior vice president of BancorpSouth Bank in Opelika, said Miller's love of community is her driving passion.
"Tipi is the glue that holds everything together," Ford said.
Ford said Miller's experience in growing up in the Opelika area and being taught to give back plays a role in the way she looks at things.
"She just really stepped right in and didn't miss a beat," Ford said about Miller becoming executive director three years ago.
Miller said her interest in giving back began during college when she was involved in Project Uplift, the food bank and other local nonprofits.
"That's where I found my love for the nonprofit world," Miller said. "And that's where I really decided that I wanted to wake up every morning and make a difference, even if it was a small difference."
Miller said her parents made a point to encourage her and her two siblings to enjoy the outdoors.
"Now I find myself saying the same things to my children," Miller said. "So it's kind of funny how that works."
Miller and her husband, Wes, who is a landscaper in Auburn, have two children: Colt, who will turn 4 years old next week, and Annie, 2.
Miller said she wants her children to understand the importance of sustainability so they can pass on the knowledge to their children.
"When they go to the woods and they see how pretty it is and they see ... how God made our creation just so intricate, I think that they will appreciate it and in turn they'll not want to litter," Miller said. "And they'll do what they can to maintain that environment for their children."
Miller said she has fond memories of visiting her grandparents and their garden.
"During the summers we would go visit them and work in the garden, and then throughout the year they would give us peas and corn ... My favorite was always their pears that they canned," Miller said. "So I grew up on fresh vegetables and fresh fruits."
Miller has practiced giving back overseas as well.
As a young girl her family lived on a farm in Bangladesh for a year and a half as missionaries.
Jere Colley, veterinarian at Opelika Animal Hospital and Miller's father, said every morning Miller and her sister would get up to collect hundreds of eggs from their farm to give to the village's residents.
"I think that time that was spent with her outside growing up is starting to come back and pay dividends right now," Colley said.
He said he's proud of the connections his daughter has made in Opelika.
"I've been a vet here 33 years and Tipi knows more people than I do," Colley said.
Colley agreed with Ford in saying that one of his daughter's strongest attributes is her "deep love for Opelika."
"She's my pride and joy," Colley said.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
