“The email you have is real,” said the caller to Dr. Teresa Woodruff ’85 on September 30, 2024. “This is a staff member from the White House. President Joseph Biden is awarding you with the National Medal of Science.” That is a phone call Dr. Woodruff will always remember.
On January 3, 2025, President Biden honored Dr. Woodruff with the National Medal of Science at the White House in Washington, DC. For 65 years, the President of the United States has bestowed the National Medal of Science on those deserving of special recognition for their outstanding contributions to science in service to the United States. This medal was established by Congress in 1959 and is administered by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Dr. Woodruff is recognized as a luminary in reproductive science for reshaping the landscape of fertility and reproductive care. Her research in ovarian biology, fertility preservation and the health of young cancer survivors has made her a leader in improving women’s reproductive health worldwide.
“This award represents the best of what my students, collaborators and I have done together,” Dr. Woodruff says. “Fundamental discoveries in science have a real impact on patients’ lives and our work is helping tomorrow’s patients to be treated better than today’s. This award brings attention to the reproductive sciences as we continue to increase the understanding of the male and female reproductive systems. It’s especially rewarding to know that our nation values the work that doesn’t usually appear in the headlines.”
Roots of learning and research at ONU
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Woodruff has continually credited her parents and her education at Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) for providing the foundation for her professional growth. Her father, the late Dr. William Woodruff, served as a professor in ONU’s theology department. Her mother, Wanda (Shuck) Woodruff ’73 MAE, inspired her interest in science.
Dr. Neal Woodruff, Dr. Teresa Woodruff and Bruce Woodruff at the O Award Ceremony, 2016.
“When I was in third grade, my mom was a first grade teacher,” Dr. Woodruff recalls. “She led a summer camp for children from her school district on ONU’s campus. I remember the experiments she did with the kids, and that was my earliest introduction to the sciences. I am so grateful for her impact on the direction of my life and on my brothers, Bruce and Neal.” Dr. Bruce Woodruff is a 1987 ONU graduate. Dr. Neal Woodruff ’91 is Associate Dean of ONU’s School of Music.
As a biology major at ONU from 1981 to 1985, Dr. Woodruff admired and was influenced by Dr. Larry Ferrin, her biochemistry professor; Dr. John Hanson, one of her chemistry professors; and Dr. Richard Colling, her biology professor and the department chair. Additionally, two highly influential professors in her education were Dr. Matthew Airhart, conductor of the University orchestra, and Professor William Woodruff from whom she took New Testament and was grateful to call dad.
“Dr. Steve Taylor, another of my chemistry professors, introduced me to the discipline of research during a summer research experience at California Institute of Technology in 1984,” Dr. Woodruff recalls. “That was my first experience of anything associated with research and finding answers.”
She graduated summa cum laude from ONU and was named the Maggie Sloan Crawford Graduate, the highest award given to a graduating senior. In 2012 and 2024, she delivered the commencement address at the ONU graduation ceremony. In 2016, she received the “O” Award, the highest honor given to ONU alumni.
Career path develops with many achievements
Dr. Woodruff earned advanced degrees at Northwestern University. She did post-doctoral work at Genentech, Inc., where she contributed to the early development of currently approved human recombinant drugs.
In 1995, she began her academic career at Northwestern University as a professor and served there in various teaching, research, and leadership positions until 2020. In 2020, she became the provost, followed by interim president from 2022 to 2024 at Michigan State University (MSU). She is now MSU’s President Emerita and also serves as MSU Research Foundation Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine; and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering.
Dr. Woodruff founded the field of oncofertility and invented clinical practice management strategies that merged two fields: oncology and fertility. This specialty provides fertility sparing or preservation options to young people with fertility-threatening conditions including cancer treatments, through the development of physician guidelines, patient awareness and education materials, and a comprehensive bench to bedside research portfolio that is advancing the understanding of ovarian follicle function.
Woodruff family with Albert Einstein statue when Teresa was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine, 2018.
Previous awards and recognitions
In addition to the National Medal of Science, Dr. Woodruff has been widely recognized for her achievements in research and advocacy. Her numerous awards include:
- Newsmaker of the Year, Crain’s Detroit (2024)
- Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Science (2020)
- Elected Fellow, National Academy of Medicine (2018)
- Elected Fellow, National Academy of Inventors in recognition of the 20 U.S. patents she holds (2017)
- Elected Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2017)
- Guggenheim Fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (2017)
- Transatlantic Medal, Society for Endocrinology (2017)
- Honorary Scientiae Doctoris (D.Sc.) honoris causa, University of Birmingham, School of Medicine, Birmingham, United Kingdom (2016)
- Beacon Award, Frontiers in Reproduction (2013)
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, presented in the Oval Office by President Barack Obama (2011)
- Honorary Scientiae Doctoris (D.Sc.) honoris causa; Bates College, Lewiston, Maine (2010)
- Distinguished Woman in Medicine and Science Award (2009)
- American Medical Women Association (AMWA) Gender Equity Award (2009)
- American Women in Science (AWIS) Innovator Award (2008)
Her most notable professional achievements include:
- Research involving live births in mice from in vitro grown ovarian follicles was named the most important breakthrough of the decade 1998-2008 by Nature Medicine.
- Creating the Oncofertility Consortium through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Interdisciplinary Roadmap Grant. Oncofertility is now a globally recognized medical discipline with insurance and reimbursement available to patients and providers in many states and countries.
- Three independent discoveries from her lab cited as “Discoveries of the Year” by Discovery Magazine and one cited by the Chinese Academy of Medicine.
- Discovery of the “zinc spark” with Tom O’Halloran.
- Featured in the book Wonder Women of Science: How 12 Geniuses Are Rocking Science, Technology, and the World (2021).
- Received grants from National Science Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NIH, among others.
- Authored or contributed to more than 450 professional publications.
- Edited or authored 7 books.
- Popular lecturer, nationally and worldwide.
Dr. Woodruff has also worked to find novel ways to reduce attrition of women from the STEM fields. She created the Women’s Health Science Program (WHSP) for High School Girls & Beyond to provide science education programs to female students in grades 9 through 12 in the Chicago Public Schools.
“At ONU, I formulated my intellectual and spiritual values,” Dr. Woodruff says. “My education provided these fundamental building blocks that have made me who I am today, and I am eternally grateful.”
Read the White House Press Release here.
*Photo credit: Ryan K. Morris and the National Science & Technology Medals Foundation. Additional photos submitted by Dr. Woodruff.
**Header photo caption: Arati Prabhakar, Ph.D., Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), awards Teresa Kaye Woodruff the National Medal of Science during an awards ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, January 3, 2025.
