From Volunteer to Visionary: Miller (’12) Designs with Purpose
Dani Miller
When Dani (Collins) Miller (’12) learned she had been selected for the , her first reaction wasn’t only celebration, but reflection.
“It makes you step back and look at your life holistically,” she says. “Maybe you’re on the right path.”
The full-circle honor feels reminiscent of the moment she’d learned she’d been accepted into the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, almost two decades ago. Growing up in Clarksville, Tennessee, that acceptance felt life changing.
She arrived on campus as a business major with a creative heart. One step inside the Art and Architecture Building changed her Volunteer journey.
“I didn’t know at the time that interior design or architecture were programs at UT,” she said. “I walked into the building for an elective class my first year and thought ‘Oh my gosh, where am I?’”
She realized creativity wasn’t just something she loved — it could be her profession. She quickly switched her major to interior design, now known as interior architecture, in the ֲý. Today, she leads Lauderdale, a full-service interior design firm in Knoxville, as owner and principal designer.
Building a Foundation in Uncertain Times
Although the country was facing an economic downturn while Miller studied at UT, the horror stories did not startle her job search.
“I knew there were jobs out there in this profession. I told myself that I’ve got to find as many experiences as possible so that I could be hireable when I graduate.”
She completed her degree with four internships under her belt and awards in the student EUReCA and International Interior Design Association competitions. The hands-on experience, shaped by faculty’s constructive critique and creative rigor, prepared Miller for her first position with Lauderdale out of college.
“Joy Lauderdale — the founder the company I ended up acquiring — was monumental in my career,” she said. “She allowed me as a 22-year-old designer to go to design meetings and present. Her willingness to trust me in front of clients helped to leapfrog my experience.”
A few years into her career, Miller joined a consulting team that sent her to New York City to partake in Cadillac’s corporate identity rollout across the USA and global markets.
The role sharpened her business instincts. It exposed her to cross-cultural communication, large-scale rollouts and the nuance of “soft skills” — the art of reading a room, navigating unspoken expectations and leading through influence.
“It was incredible to have that kind of reach and that kind of exposure to different cultures and different ways of working,” Miller said.
But even amid the excitement, she felt a gut instinct to lead something of her own.
Returning to Rocky Top
That instinct brought Miller home to Knoxville, and eventually, to ownership of Lauderdale. Since the acquisition in late 2022, Miller has helped the company grow from two to nine full-time employees—all UT alumni—and established their guiding values of extreme ownership and the pursuit of design excellence.
Under her leadership, Lauderdale has worked across commercial, hospitality, and residential project sectors throughout the region. Among the projects she’s particularly proud of is the redesigned welcome area at the Knoxville Museum of Art, the first impression visitors receive upon entering the museum.
Another standout is the Tennessee National Clubhouse in Loudon, a concept-driven new build designed to enhance the experience of the private golf community.
While the firm’s work has earned recognition from the press to professional associations, Miller lights up most when speaking about her team’s growth.
“I love the projects where I get to see our team members shine,” she said. She credits the great work the company provides to the talented designers on Lauderdale’s team.
Investing in Future Designers
The Volunteer 40 Under 40 is not a finish line for Miller, but an affirmation. Her connection to the university did not end at graduation—it has deepened.
Today, Miller serves as a Chancellor’s Associate and as a member of the Dean’s Advocacy Board for the ֲý. In both roles, she helps champion the university’s mission, supports strategic initiatives, and ensures the college remains closely connected to the professional world its graduates enter.
“I walk into that building even now and still feel that same curiosity and optimism,” she said. “There’s something really special about that place.”
Her involvement keeps her on the pulse of evolving design curriculum while allowing her to offer insight from the professional side of the industry. Through student reviews, mentorship, advisory conversations and informal coffee meetings, she intentionally invests in the next generation of designers.
“People poured into me,” Miller said. “It’s a duty of a leader to do the same. We have the opportunity to impact people in a positive way.”