Maki Inada, remembered

Sad news of the passing of Maki Inada

It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Maki Inada, former Associate Professor of Biology, on September 15, 2026.

Maki was an outstanding faculty member during her time at IC. She was responsible for a major reworking of the Biochemistry major and developed the first course-based research labs for the introductory biology course that has become an integral part of our curriculum for Biology and Biochemistry majors. Her research on molecular biology helped multiple students begin careers in research and medicine.

Read more here.

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Welcome to Ithaca College Biology!

During an Ithaca College career in biology, our majors:

  • Participate in active learning, with small class sizes and extensive laboratory experiences
  • Build relationships with faculty members, who mentor in and out of the classroom
  • Gain research skills and experience working with faculty in collaborative research
  • Join a vibrant peer community
  • Prepare for success in a broad array of biological careers!

Explore our site or check out our Instagram page (@icbiology)to learn more about us! Or read the last department newsletter.

Contact Us

Peter Melcher, Chair

Nancy Pierce, Administrative Assistant

Jessica Kerns, Laboratory Coordinator

General Questions can be emailed to: biology@ithaca.edu

Department Office: Center for Natural Sciences (CNS) 162

Laboratory Prep Room: CNS 177 (607-274-3973)

Directions to CNS once on Campus - directions-to-cns_0 (pdf)