By Meredith Weber 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 18, 2026) — Six educators were honored Feb. 17 as the 2026 Great Teacher Award recipients. They are: 

The two College of Arts and Sciences faculty members are:

Donna L. Geuser, MS, CIH (retired), is certified in the comprehensive practice of industrial hygiene by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

Her background includes a B.S. in biology from the University of Kentucky (1980). She graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 1982 with a Master of Science in industrial hygiene. During her career, she worked in industry and insurance, where she provided occupational environmental safety and health consultation. Her work took her to a variety of workplaces from agriculture to medical device manufacturing and rare earth mining.

Newly retired, she enjoys hiking; helping in several areas at her church; volunteering at the Bushnell theater in Hartford, Connecticut, for the symphony and Broadway shows; and exploring the Farmington Valley in Connecticut and Massachusetts. As a former

Amy Wilson has a passionate belief in the power of education to allow one to achieve their dreams. Her love of science has driven her educational and career choices throughout her life. She grew up in a small town in Kentucky and went to the University of Kentucky, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree (1988) in the Biology Department and a Ph.D. in molecular biology (1994).  Following a post-doctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Wilson was a scientist for a biotechnology company and then went to Brooklyn Law School. She became a patent attorney, initially working at a law firm, and then in the pharmaceutical industry. She uses her biology degree every day as she works to protect the intellectual property rights related to novel biologic drugs that can positively influence patients' lives. 

Wilson has served on

Meredith Giglia van der Velden, M.D, M.B.A, is a pediatric critical care medicine physician at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is a native of Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

She received her B.S. in biology from University of Kentucky (1998) and her M.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine (2002). She completed her pediatric residency and pediatric xritical care fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and has remained there ever since. In addition to care of the critically ill pediatric patient, her academic interests include the business and operations of healthcare delivery.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her kids/family particularly playing outside (skiing) and cooking. 

Jaliya Slaton is a native of Madisonville, Kentucky. She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Kentucky and later completed her Master of Business Administration at the University of Louisville. With over eight years of experience in clinical research, Jaliya has developed a strong foundation in advancing healthcare through innovative studies and patient-focused initiatives. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys content creation, hiking, caring for house plants and spending quality time with friends and family.

Marie Setser is currently retired after a career in healthcare research and finance. 

She earned her B.S. in zoology at UK in 1965 and her MA T in biology at The Citadel in 1979. She worked at UK in the Department of Community Medicine Tuberculosis Research, the Medical University of South Carolina in renal and pulmonary physiology research and as a research assistant in electron microscopy and cystic fibrosis research. She spent 10 years in the finance industry in sales and management.

She also taught biology as adjunct faculty at Olympic College and City Colleges of Chicago. In addition, she served as the president of the South Carolina American Association of University Women. 

She and her husband have been married for 60 years and have two sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter. She has been active in

Michael Rossi retired in June 2025 after more than three decades in higher education, research and academic leadership. Most recently, he served as an associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New Haven, where he was also a professor in the Department of Biology and Environmental Science.

He earned a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Kentucky in 1990, followed by postdoctoral research in the Department of Obstetrics and Genecology at the University of Florida. Rossi moved to Connecticut to join the Department of Biology & Environmental Science at the University of New Haven as an associate professor in 1992. Over the years, he focused on cellular and molecular biology, reproductive endocrinology and cancer biology: fields that shaped his research and his approach to mentoring students.

He created the

Peggy Richey recently retired as a professor of biology and biochemistry/molecular biology from Centre College after teaching there for 36 years.

She earned a B.S. in botany from the University of Kentucky (1983) and an M.S. and Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Kentucky (1985, 1989). She taught a wide range of courses at Centre College with specialties in microbiology, molecular biology and genetic engineering.

Richey lives in Lexington and enjoys gardening, hiking, reading and traveling to new places.

Steven Pass, Pharm.D., is a professor and regional Ddn at the Dallas campus of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy.  

Pass is a native of Louisville and completed a B.S. in biology from the University of Kentucky in 1992. After undergrad, he graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 1996 and completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and a PGY2 critical care pharmacy residency at University Hospital in Cincinnati.

Interests and hobbies include bicycling, movies and all UK athletics.

Riya Paranthan, O.D., is a licensed optometric physician with advanced clinical expertise in ocular disease, surgical co-management, dry eye therapy and neuro-ophthalmic conditions.

Her background includes a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Kentucky (2009), where she graduated magna cum laude with high honors and was an Honors Program scholar. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree with clinical honors from Salus University in 2014.

Paranthan serves as vice chair of the Washington State Board of Optometry, following gubernatorial appointments in 2022 and 2025. Nationally, she is chairperson of the Review Committee for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (2023–2026).

Her professional leadership includes service as president of the Salus University Alumni Board, Advisory Panel Member for Women in

Scott G. Lynn is currently a scientist working for the Environmental Protection Agency  on the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program.  

His background includes a B.S. in environmental science from Pennsylvania State University and a M.S .in environmental toxicology from Drexel University. He graduated from the University of Kentucky Department of Biology with a Ph.D. in 2006. His research focused on molecular endocrinology. He then received a National Institute of Environmental Health Science post-doctoral fellowship at Michigan State University and U.S. Fulbright post-doctoral fellowship in Norway. In 2011 he took a position at the EPA to support the development and implementation of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program. His EPA position requires him to represent the program to both national and international audiences and stakeholders

Will Coots brings executive leadership within project management and over 30 years of customer-focused service in the clinical research and biopharmaceutical industry to the Alumni Board. He is a highly seasoned senior leader, known for his ability to expertly navigate complex, multi-phase clinical trials (phases I through IV) with global oversight across North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Coots has served as a quality assurance auditor, statistical programmer and biostatistician. He has contributed to both project management and business development. His specialized project management expertise includes leading teams in critical areas like protocol development, patient enrollment strategy, regulatory affairs, clinical monitoring and overall clinical trial oversight. His core passion and focus have always been bringing new medicines,

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A University of Kentucky doctoral student dug deeply into the Tapichalaca reserve in Ecuador and uncovered a magnolia tree variety that’s different enough from other types to be called its own species: Magnolia tapichalacaensis.  

The tree’s big flowers attracted the attention of Edison Rea-Sancho, a doctoral student in biology in UK’s College of Arts and Sciences. He recently co-wrote a paper for the journal Phytotaxa. 

“Plants are awesome," Rea-Sancho said. “I am from Ecuador, and I grew up surrounded by plants. Being in the tropical rain forest made me curious about plants and trees. Among

How long have you been with the department?
I started in the department in January 2025, so I have been here almost a year.

What motivated you to come to our department? 
I was excited about the diversity of questions, approaches, and model systems in this department. It is a great place to do interdisciplinary work on a non-traditional model system.

Where did you live before starting at UK? 
I moved from the bay area in California, where I was for graduate school and my postdoc, but I am originally from Massachusetts.

What are you most proud or excited about? 
I am so excited about getting the lab up and

What is your major? 
I’m currently a biology major.

Minors?
Political science.

What year do you graduate?
If all goes to plan, 2028.

Where are you from?
I’m from Lexington. 

Are you a first generation student?
No.

What motivated you to come to UK? To major in biology?
My parents were both alums, but truthfully I was interested in other universities outside of Kentucky. But UK has a large Biology Department with many helpful professors whom I couldn’t overlook. So far I’ve had a great experience and look forward to meeting more people within the department.

Have you had any mentors or professors who have

What is your connection to the Department of Biology?
I earned my Ph.D. from the Department of Biology in 1990. My work was under the supervision of Dr. Sheldon Steiner, and it was looking at the role of eicosanoids in myoblast fusion and differentiation. My work was heavily based on cell culture and biochemistry. As such, it gave me a chance to use a broad variety of technical skills.

What was your overall experience with the department? When I look back at the classes, graduate school was easy. I love the chance to explore different opportunities doing research rotations in my first year. Every one of the labs I was rotated through was exciting. I often think I only picked Shelly’s lab because his was the final rotation and I could just keep going

By Ryan Girves

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2025) — Throughout his career, Robin Cooper, Ph.D., has always been guided by curiosity. As a comparative physiologist in the Department of Biology in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, he has spent decades asking questions about how living systems work and encouraging students to ask their own.

The Chellgren Endowed Professorship gave Cooper the runway to amplify that spirit of inquiry, transforming his classroom and lab into even more powerful spaces where undergraduates

By Francis Von Mann

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2025) – In the Don & Cathy Jacobs Science Building, a mural sprawls across a whiteboard. On one side, a magnified cell with swirling, intricate layers. On the other, Charles Darwin circled by Galápagos finches and double helixes. It is equal parts science and art, memorialized with a signature in the corner: Shane D’Souza, Class of 2018.

Seven years later, D’Souza stands in front of that same mural – untouched by students who have long admired it – delivering a lecture on his research in pediatric ophthalmology. The audience of biology undergraduates leans in. His subject is technical, but his metaphors are clear and vivid

Biology Alum, Dr. Vince Gouge, was profiled on a UKNow article titled "From residents to patients: One couple’s full-circle journey with UK HealthCare". 

Click here to read the full article!