Maria Todd, an associate professor of biology at Southwestern University, has been selected to receive the 2013-2014 Exemplary Teaching Award from the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. Each year the Board allows Southwestern to designate one teacher to receive this award, which includes a $500 cash prize.

The award recognizes faculty members at United Methodist-related colleges and universities who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, excellence in teaching, service to students and commitment to education.

Todd has taught at Southwestern since 2001. She teaches a range of classes from the introductory to advanced level, including Genes and Molecules, Methods in Cellular/Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Cellular Physiology, and Human Biology Today, which is offered for non-science majors. She is one of the faculty members participating in Southwestern’s Paideia “cluster” on global health and was one of the first faculty members at Southwestern selected to be a Community-Engaged Learning Fellow.

“We are delighted to be able to recognize Dr. Todd’s outstanding teaching through this award,” said Provost Jim Hunt. “She exemplifies the excellence and commitment to teaching, both in and out of the classroom, that is the hallmark of the Southwestern University educational experience.”

Todd has received several other awards for her teaching and research, including the Southwestern University Teaching Award in 2010.

Todd has a B.Sc. (Hons.) in biology from the University of Sussex in England and a Ph.D. in lung cancer genetics from Cambridge University in England. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis.