Amy Rice Doetsch

Amy Rice Doetsch has spent the past 22 years helping CSI students discover that biology is much more than memorizing facts. As a Distinguished Professor in the Biology & Allied Health Department, she teaches Introduction to Biology and Cell Biology, encouraging students to think critically and understand the logic behind how living systems work.

Amy's passion for biology began with inspiring high school science teachers who encouraged curiosity and asking questions. That interest continued through college and graduate school, where she discovered a love for developmental biology and, ultimately, teaching. Today, she says she gets to share her excitement for biology with dozens of students every day.

In her classroom, students are encouraged to ask questions, solve biological problems, and build a deeper understanding of how cells and living systems function. Along the way, they develop practical skills like scientific communication, microscopy, and using the metric system while learning concepts that prepare them for careers in healthcare, research, and the life sciences.

Amy says her favorite moments are when students have an "ah-ha" moment and suddenly see the logic behind biology for themselves. She hopes every student leaves her class realizing that biology is both interesting and important, with discoveries that continue to shape medicine, agriculture, and our understanding of the world.

Outside of CSI, Amy enjoys spending time with her family, gardening (except for the weeding), cooking, preserving food, and sharing meals with the people she loves. Students are often surprised to learn she's pretty good at starting campfires.

Her advice to students: learning takes time, so give yourself the time to truly learn.