Dr. Alicia Cecil Receives Academic Teaching Award by Indiana Branch of American Society for Microbiology

Dr. Alicia Cecil, assistant professor of biology, was recently selected as the recipient of the 2025 Academic Teaching Award from the Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (IBASM).

The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional life science organizations in the world. It is dedicated to increasing awareness in the field of microbiology and supporting faculty and students in their research endeavors. 

Dr. Cecil was recognized at the IBASM’s annual meeting, where she also presented a talk on how she and her colleagues in the UIndy Department of Biology have developed innovative strategies to support student learning. One such initiative is the Concept Enhancement Learning Lounge (CEL Lounge), which gives students additional opportunities to engage with course content in an active, hands-on manner. 

Dr. Cecil joined the Department of Biology in 2006 and teaches clinical and general microbiology, introductory cell biology, and biology for public health majors. Additionally, Dr. Cecil serves as a faculty advisor in the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College.

“It was an honor to be recognized by the Indiana Branch of ASM for my work. This award is special to me because students nominated me for it,” said Dr. Cecil. “I was also delighted to share the UIndy Biology Department’s student-focused initiatives with colleagues from other universities in the state.”