Martha Reed has been tapped to serve as speaker during Southside Virginia Community College’s commencement exercises on May 14.

Commencement will be held at the Christanna Campus in Alberta at 9:30 a.m.

Reed has a passion for teaching, according to a college press release.

Reed, an assistant professor of biology, has been a member of the SVCC faculty for 23 years. She teaches anatomy and physiology, general biology, basic human biology, foundations of biology and has taught dual enrollment and governor’s school classes. 

A graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (Phi Beta Kappa), she received her master’s degree from Virginia Tech (magna cum laude).   During her tenure, she has received many awards, including Virginia Community College Association’s Faculty Showcase 2009 and 2014 awards, 2012 NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence in Teaching award and the 2015 Virginia Community College Chancellor’s Award in Community Service.

“Teaching, for me, is a mission and not just a job,” she said. “I have the chance to change someone’s life every day. Teaching at a community college as compared to a larger university gives me the opportunity to get to know my students on a more personal level.”

Not only does Reed love teaching, but her students also return the love. In student surveys they have said, “She was helpful and helps the student when needed. Also cares about her students. Absolutely love her as a teacher,” and “Mrs. Reed is always willing to go out of her way to answer any questions asked.”

Reed also has a passion for mission work and expects her students to become involved in community service projects.

These have included Stop Hunger Now events and March of Dimes and alzheimer’s walks. She has been on three international medical mission trips to Honduras and Guatemala.

Reed has also assisted with mission trips to South Carolina to help the Edisto Indians and worked with the homeless in Atlanta.

She is married to Dr. David Reed and resides in Blackstone. They have two daughters, Maggie (21) and Mary Preston (16).

In addition to mission work, Reed enjoys cooking, gardening, walking and spending time with her family at the beach.