Tiya Miles ‘88 on Her Middlesex Experience

In an interview, the Harvard historian recounts moments of inspiration and offers advice.

Middlesex recently welcomed historian and author Dr. Tiya Miles ‘88, the Michael Garvey Professor of History at Harvard and Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, to campus. She spoke as part of Middlesex’s programming around the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in a separate interview with the Anvil, she recounted her time as a student here.

For Miles, “Middlesex created a world where dreams were born,” she said, fulfilling her desire for learning. Here, Miles discovered one of her favorite novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. In addition to her academic pursuits, she helped organize events like Casino Night and served as co-editor of the Anvil.

Miles came to Middlesex as a sophomore from a public school in Ohio. The transition was difficult at first. In a vivid memory from her first year, Miles’s Latin teacher began class by declaring himself a frog. She recalls being shocked receiving her first English paper and realizing that she would have to work assiduously for her A’s. Miles learned through this experience that “achievement tastes sweeter.”

Because Middlesex requires underclassmen to participate in one sport per season, Miles decided to try crew in the spring of her first year. Although she was nervous at first, rowing became a transformative experience. According to Miles, her team’s boat once capsized, but the collective team response to the setback left a mark in her memory. Through rowing, Miles learned that unity defines a true team, regardless of differences in individual skill level. 

Miles was not fixated on history at Middlesex, but rather appreciated literature and the study of older cultures. She recollects at times worrying that her many passions would not work out in her future. Looking back, she wishes she could tell her younger self to “have patience” and remember that “life unfolds in phases.” 

As an educator, Miles relates the past to the present to encourage students to envision a better future, particularly regarding the environmental and climate crisis. Indeed, her latest book, Night Flier: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People, is an example of environmental history. In response to students' anxiety about the future, Miles exhorted, “You are not helpless. Refuse to be hopeless. Engage!”.

Reflecting on Professor Miles’s talk, P.K. Awuah ‘28 said, “Awareness is an essential factor for taking action.” According to Awuah, people, even those not in “position[s] of power,” must spread awareness of the environmental issues Miles writes about.

Miles encourages students to continue to question, learn, and be inspired when lost. According to Miles, humanity will progress once we can collaborate and trust each other.

Mia Koopersmith