• Associate Professor in the Department of Biology
• a co-developer of the Neuroscience co-major
• teaches human physiology to many pre-health students
• researches the immune system’s ability to influence brain function and animal behavior

"Dr. Killian makes sure that every student leaving her classroom has mastered the content that she set out to teach.”

The 2022-2023 awardee, Dr. Kathy Killian, is an Associate Professor at Miami University. She teaches a wide range of courses, including human physiology to many premedical and pre-health students. As one of the co-developers of the Neuroscience co-major, she is well known to students enrolled in either the co-major or minor, as she teaches an introductory seminar in neuroscience as well as upper and graduate-level courses in neurophysiology.  In addition, her neuroscience and behavior lab, home to many undergraduate researchers over the years, investigates the link between the insect immune system and the regulation of adult neurogenesis and brain plasticity, with the overarching goal of understanding the immune system’s ability to influence brain function and animal behavior. She is also a continuing member on Miami’s Pre-health Advisory Committee for well over a dozen years. 

Nomination by our premedical and pre-health students described Dr. Killian’s great impact on students in Miami’s pre-health community. Here are excerpts from her nomination: 

“Dr. Killian challenges her students to the max; however, she is there to support you through the challenges. Whether it be in office hours, before/after class, or even on a weekend, Dr. Killian makes sure that every student leaving her classroom has mastered the content that she set out to teach.” 

“Dr. Killian is one of the people here at Miami that I will never forget, and will always be thankful for because of her outstanding dedication and commitment to undergraduate pre-health training” 

Her nomination clearly demonstrated to the Mallory-Wilson Center Student Advisory Board that Dr. Killian is a wonderful asset to Miami’s pre-health students and a very deserving recipient of this year’s Faculty/Staff Recognition Award.

Congratulations to Dr. Killian on earning this student honor, and the Mallory-Wilson Center thanks you for working to enhance the pre-health experience at

[May 2023]