Branden Miller brings positive energy wherever he goes. The University of South Carolina senior has channeled that spirit into four years of success as a David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management student and campus leader, and as graduation approaches, the doors are open to a bright and joyful future.
When Branden was a little boy, he wanted to be president of the United States. “I wanted to be top dog. I wanted to make sure I controlled everything,” he remembers with a smile.
As he grew up, that dream evolved (though many who know him can imagine him in the Oval Office), but the desire to lead remained.
“I just wanted to do something where people saw me and something where I could help others,” he says. As a Gamecock, he has certainly done that.
Branden’s most visible leadership role has come in his senior year as president of Carolina Productions. The student programming board brings life to campus with year-round events including the Cockstock Concert, The Dating Game, Birdcage, SpringFest, movie screenings, Comedy Shows, and much more.
His road to that position started thanks to Instructor Matt Dunn, and Branden credits the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management team as a whole for their help along the way.
“I wouldn’t be where I am now without the HRSM faculty and staff. I would never have done Carolina Productions, would never have become president, if it weren't for Matt Dunn telling me my freshman year, ‘I think you should join this club.’ And then slowly over time, I built up to who I am now and to the point I'm talking at Tiger Burn, I'm talking at First Night Carolina, and I'm getting to help so many different people and really learn what I think my purpose is and what I think I should do with the rest of my life. So I have to thank HRSM forever,” he says.
Branden has also served as a U101 Peer Leader, a member of the HRSM Leadership Program, and as a marketing intern and lead women’s basketball intern with Gamecock Athletics. He earned a place in the parade in honor of the 2024 national championship, and says one of his favorite college memories is watching the women win it from the Russell House ballroom, then sprinting alongside fellow students to celebrate by jumping into the Thomas Cooper Library Fountain.
Through the College of HRSM, he also had the opportunity to work at the Bonnaroo music festival as a security guard.
“Never in my life would I think that I'm going to work backstage. I ran into Lil Nas X. I met Dave Grohl,” he remembers. “It was such an insane environment just to be back there and it was long days, but afterwards we were able to go enjoy the music festival. So I was able to see Kendrick for free.”
Branden’s experiences have led him to focus his career plans on the entertainment industry. His dream is to run his own music festival, a role which seems a perfect fit.
“I think music and live entertainment is the ultimate connector of people,” he says. “You don't even need to necessarily like the music to connect with someone about it. It's all about building community and I feel like music does that and live entertainment does that on a level that you can't see anywhere else.”
Branden has made the most of his time on campus, and advises future Gamecocks to do the same.
“Enjoy the journey. I know that the main destination of college is to graduate, but don't forget the little things along the way. Don't forget the times when you went to lunch with your friends. Don't forget the times in class when you learned a new thing or you talked to a professor. Don't forget going to events and going to basketball games and football games. Don't get so caught up in future goals that you let the four years out of here dwindle past you, because it's really a special thing here that you will never get back in your life. Enjoy every single moment.”