Monica Miller, whose research interests include feminist and gender theory, Southern and Appalachian Literature, Queer Theory, and American Literature, received her PhD in English in 2014 from LSU. Her dissertation was titled "Lopsided, Scarred, and Squint Eyed: Ugly Women in the Work of Twentieth Century Southern Women Writers."

The LSU Alumni Association annually sponsors the Distinguished Dissertation Awards. Two awards are given: one in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and one in science, engineering and technology. Awards are presented to the doctoral student in each category whose research and writing epitomize superior scholarship. Winning dissertations are chosen by a committee of members of the graduate faculty.

Monica will receive her award on April 15 at a ceremony in Baton Rouge.