Greenville Technical College's Manufacturing Innovation Campus Named for President Emeritus

The Center for Manufacturing Innovation celebrates 10 years of growing talent to close the skills gap for advanced manufacturing employers.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:34pm

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Greenville Technical College's Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) Campus, which has served as an industry-focused center for advanced manufacturing education and training over the past decade, has been named after the college's former president, Dr. Keith Miller. Dr. Miller envisioned the CMI as a way to put education on display, inviting visitors to see the robotics and electronics used in highly skilled, high-paying manufacturing jobs.

Why it matters

The CMI has played a crucial role in addressing the skills gap in advanced manufacturing in the Upstate region of South Carolina, providing industry-aligned programs that prepare graduates for in-demand technical and managerial roles. By naming the campus after Dr. Miller, the college and community are recognizing his vision and leadership in creating this innovative solution to workforce needs.

The details

The CMI opened in 2016 with programs in mechatronics, CNC machining, and electronics engineering technology. Since then, it has expanded to offer all of the college's advanced manufacturing-related programs, and in 2019 became home to the state's only bachelor's degree at the two-year college level in advanced manufacturing. Enrollment in the CMI's programs has grown by 200% over the past decade, and the facility now features teaching tools valued at $15 million, thanks to partnerships with manufacturing leaders and donor support.

  • The CMI Campus opened in 2016.
  • In 2019, the CMI became home to the state's only bachelor's degree in advanced manufacturing at the two-year college level.
  • Over the past 10 years, enrollment in the CMI's programs has grown by 200%.

The players

Dr. Keith Miller

The former president of Greenville Technical College, who envisioned the CMI as a way to put education on display and showcase the skills needed for high-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Larry Miller

The current president of Greenville Technical College, who praised Dr. Keith Miller's vision and drive in creating the innovative CMI.

Greenville Technical College Area Commission

The governing body that made the decision to name the CMI Campus after Dr. Keith Miller.

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What they’re saying

“As CMI supports the talent requirements of the Upstate's advanced manufacturing employers while placing its graduates on a path to career success, it will carry the name of the man who saw what could be and then made it happen.”

— Dr. Larry Miller, President of Greenville Technical College

“CMI continues to spark progress. In fact, its impact has been greater than I could possibly have imagined at the outset. I am grateful to the Greenville Technical College Area Commission for their decision to allow this center to bear my name. The seventeen years I spent as president of GTC were the highlight of my career, and this recognition puts an exclamation point on that very wonderful sentence.”

— Dr. Keith Miller, President Emeritus of Greenville Technical College

What’s next

The CMI Campus will continue to serve as a hub for advanced manufacturing education and training, working to address the skills gap in the Upstate region and prepare graduates for high-demand technical and managerial roles.

The takeaway

The naming of the CMI Campus after Dr. Keith Miller is a testament to his vision and leadership in creating an innovative solution to workforce needs in advanced manufacturing. The CMI's growth and impact over the past decade demonstrate the value of industry-aligned education and the power of public-private partnerships in addressing skills gaps and supporting economic development.