Keli Pia-Miller '27 Empowered by Purpose, Driven by Community

For Keli Pia-Miller ’27, a first-generation law student in Albany Law School’s Flex JD program, pursuing a law degree was never about prestige or career change—it was about deepening a lifelong commitment to children, families, and her rural upstate New York community.

Pia-Miller is one of two recipients of the MacDonald Class of 2010 Barrister Scholarship, designated for first-generation law students.

“Without financial support, I simply couldn’t have done this. I have children. I have a life full of obligations. I love my job. The scholarship has truly been life-changing, not just for me, but for my whole community.”

With more than 17 years as a social worker, currently as a senior social worker at Citizens Concerned for Children, Inc., Attorneys for Children in Ithaca, her transition to law is a natural extension of her career, she said. Her ultimate goal is to become an attorney for the child and remain in her community, which faces a shortage of family court lawyers. 
 

“Parents are waiting four to five months to be assigned an attorney. That delay only adds to trauma,” she said. “I want to stay here and make my office stronger. We need more lawyers who represent the most vulnerable.”

Pia-Miller was introduced to Albany Law’s Flex JD program by Diane Withiam '78, a supervising attorney (now retired) at Citizens Concerned for Children, Inc. Withiam served as Pia-Miller's mentor after hiring her in 2007. 

“She inspired me to see that I didn’t have to choose between my social work values and legal ethics—they actually complement each other,” Pia-Miller said.

The flexibility of the program allows her to continue working full-time, parent her three children, and stay rooted in her community. It’s not easy, but it is worth it, she said. 

“It’s unbelievably challenging,” she said. “But I’ve done far better than I expected. I average a high grade point average. That still surprises me.”

Pia-Miller credits her success to the structure, support, and rigor of the Flex JD program, especially the faculty. 

“They don’t lower standards for us, we're held to the same expectations. That gave me confidence that I really can be a lawyer.”
The community she’s found through the virtual format has also been unexpectedly powerful. 

“We have a cohort group chat—it’s poems, pets, encouragement. It sounds small, but it means so much,” she said. “Even though I’m three and a half hours away, I feel like I belong. I feel like our mental health has been really kind of taken care of in that way, too. The professors, especially people like [Dean Jonathan] Rosenbloom, go out of their way to remind us, ‘You belong here. We chose you.’”

One surprising benefit of the program’s format? Recorded lectures. “Being able to re-listen to classes has completely changed the way I study,” she said. “I treat them like podcasts—listening to them again before finals helps me absorb so much more.”

Beyond academic performance, Pia-Miller also sees her journey as a way to serve as a strong model for her children and later, serve her community in new ways. 

“My son is in high school and sees me studying. I want him to understand the value of hard work and education,” she said. “And I know that when I graduate, I’ll be able to give back in a way I couldn’t before. That’s what this is all about.”