In a teaching career spanning more than four decades, Professor Emeritus of Biology Surendra Singh, Ph.D., has worked with colleagues to establish the highly respected Department of Biology at Newman University. This year, Singh has been selected to be one of Ingram’s Magazine’s “Icons of Education” — a yearly award from the Kansas City business magazine. This honor is highly respected among educators and, according to the statement released by Ingram’s, those who are picked are “among an elite few Icons of Education.”
At Newman University, Singh led the efforts to develop 10 distinct degree programs in science and allied health, including radiologic technology, respiratory care and sonography. He has also been the driving force behind the university’s signature pre-professional medicine program. Since its beginning in 1969, the pre-med program has successfully placed more than 90 percent of applicants from Newman University into medical schools. Over the past 10 years, the rate averaged 96 percent.
Newman University graduates are also regularly acceptanced to other science, medical and health care graduate and professional programs. Thanks largely to Singh’s efforts, graduates regularly attend programs in optometry, pharmacy and physical therapy across the nation. Today, the list of medical professionals in the workplace — operating in essentially every medical field — who studied under Singh is countless.
In addition to his work directly with students, Singh created the Investigative Summer Science Program, the Hispanic Scholars Program and the Native American Scholars Program at Newman University. His career has also been marked by many international publications, awards and numerous scientific and educational contributions.
Singh has achieved many accomplishments in the professional world, but, to him, his greatest achievement has been the impact he has had on his students.
Singh is one of 11 Icon of Education honorees chosen from the Kansas-Missouri area. Along with the other recipients, he will be named in Ingram’s February 2016 issue.
An award luncheon for the honorees was held Feb. 8.
