As Mercer University prepares to enter the upcoming fall semester, the College of Pharmacy will say goodbye to two long-serving faculty members. Dr. Susan Miller and Dr. Leisa Marshall have officially retired.
“Dr. Miller and Dr. Marshall have committed their careers to training future pharmacists, improving patient care, and enhancing the college through their leadership and service,” College of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Michael Crouch said. “Their influence goes well beyond teaching, affecting numerous students, alumni and patients. On behalf of the entire college, I sincerely thank them for their exceptional contributions and wish them success in this well-earned next chapter.”
Dr. Marshall earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Georgia before completing her Pharm.D. at Mercer. Over nearly 20 years at the college, she became a leading voice in geriatric pharmacotherapy and a dedicated advocate for the health of older adults. She also served as an affiliate faculty member at the Mercer University Center for Gerontology, broadening her impact across disciplines.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my years of teaching at Mercer was observing our first-year students grow into pharmacists, ready to serve as competent, caring pharmacists in a variety of practice settings,” said Marshall.
Dr. Miller has a long-term dedication to Mercer. She is a Double Bear, earning her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1979 before earning her Doctor of Pharmacy in 1983 at Mercer’s Southern School of Pharmacy. A board-certified geriatric pharmacist and fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, she built a career defined by clinical rigor and a commitment to evolving pharmacy education. In 2025, Dr. Miller was honored as the Faculty Member of the Year by the Georgia Pharmacy Association.
Together, Dr. Miller and Dr. Marshall played instrumental roles in shaping Mercer’s curriculum and professional standards that kept pace with advances across the pharmacy field. Dr. Miller said adaptability was a defining theme over her tenure.
“The one thing that I’ll remember from my time here is change,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve seen changes in pharmacy education, leadership and expectations. One must keep responding to change.”
Added Marshall, “Pharmacy practice has evolved during my years at the college. Our teaching in the college, whether in the classroom or in practice experiences, has inspired our students to become innovators in pharmacy practice upon graduation and to become role models for the next generation of pharmacists.”
At its most recent meeting, the Board of Trustees honored both faculty members by naming Dr. Miller a professor emerita of pharmacy Practice and Dr. Marshall a clinical professor emerita of pharmacy practice.
As they enter retirement, Dr. Miller and Dr. Marshall leave behind a legacy of academic excellence, compassionate care, and a broad network of alumni who carry their standards into practice every day. As for post-retirement plans, both are looking forward to traveling and gardening.
