Our public health community is pleased to share that Cecilia Obeng, professor in the Department of Applied Health Science and IU graduate, has been inducted into the prestigious IU Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching (FACET).
In addition to being a three-time honoree of the IU Trustees Teaching Award in 2006, 2008, and 2016 respectively, Obeng is the founding director of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program at SPH-B. Her exhaustive research on breastfeeding amongst African American and Black parents has consistently received national and global recognition, and in 2025, Obeng established the first human milk bank in Ghana in collaboration with IU Ghana Gateway and SPH-B.
“[The school] supported me with a strong letter that helped me to obtain an HRSA Grant, which led to the establishment of the MCH Program,” shares Obeng. “The faculty members at SPH-B have strongly supported me through our ‘Layered Learning’ activities, where I was one of seven faculty members from IU to receive the inaugural award for training undergraduate researchers.”
Having taught students from preschoolers to Ph.D. candidates over the years, Obeng says being recognized by FACET is particularly meaningful as it affirms her “professional visionary obligation” to pedagogical practices. In addition to developing 22 distinct courses and mentoring more than 150 students specializing in qualitative research methodologies, Obeng has created challenging, supportive learning environments that empower students to engage in meaningful discourse and forge purposeful pathways for their future careers.
“My approach to education reflects a combination of rigor, compassion, and vision,” says Obeng. “Through mutual respect, collaborative inquiry, and high expectations, I empower students not only to master content but to grow as scholars, professionals, and leaders in public health.”
Obeng is looking forward to fruitful collaborations with other distinguished FACET educators from SPH-B and other departments across campus, sharing insights as well as a unique opportunity to “augment our ‘Layered Learning’ research activities and submit our research to more peer-reviewed, intellectually recognized journals. Being a FACET inductee gives me the confidence to peer review its journal and subsequently expand my review activities into the MCH profession.”
As Obeng looks forward to her formal induction during the FACET Retreat 2026 at the end of this month at IU Indianapolis, she acknowledges SPH-B and IU Bloomington’s commitment to continually supporting and developing the power of sound pedagogical practices.
“My induction into FACET is a fitting recognition of a career marked by transformative mentorship, intellectual generosity, and unwavering dedication to student success,” says Obeng. “It honors far beyond what I have accomplished; it honors and encourages generations of learners, scholars, and public health professionals who will continue to be shaped by my professional activities.”
Read more of how SPH-B faculty, staff, and students are making a mark both locally and nationwide at go.iu.edu/48bx.