Miller’s foundational argument rests on a crucial expansion of the term “violence” itself. In the academic context, violence is not limited to physical assault—though that occurs—but is more frequently enacted as . This includes persistent belittling, public humiliation, the sabotaging of research or teaching efforts, the withholding of resources necessary for success (a form of administrative bullying), and the systematic exclusion from professional networks and decision-making processes. Miller’s work effectively categorizes these behaviors as forms of non-physical violence that are just as destructive, if not more so, than a physical altercation, because they erode the very foundation of professional identity and institutional trust. By naming these subtle, corrosive acts as violence, she challenges the tendency of administrators and colleagues to dismiss them as “personality conflicts” or “robust debate.”
Academic bullying is not merely "toughness" or high standards; it is a persistent form of mistreatment that includes verbal abuse, professional sabotage, and social exclusion. geri miller academic violence and bullying of faculty
While there is no widely publicized record of Dr. Miller personally being sanctioned for "academic violence" or "bullying," she is frequently cited in academic literature regarding the and the dynamics of power in academic settings. if not more so