The Iowa Board of Regents has selected six outstanding University of Iowa faculty members, including Mary Charlton, professor of epidemiology in the College of Public Health and director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, to be honored for their extraordinary contributions and sustained record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. 

Each recipient of the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence receives a $1,500 stipend. Awardees were selected by committees appointed by shared governance in collaboration with UI administration and confirmed by the Board of Regents.

Charlton is a nationally respected leader in cancer surveillance, rural cancer disparities, and health services research. She has authored more than 140 peer-reviewed publications and led continuously funded research supported by the National Cancer Institute and other federal agencies.

Since 2019, Charlton has served as director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, producing the influential Cancer in Iowa reports that inform state policy, clinical practice, and public understanding. Through initiatives such as the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project and the Iowa Cancer Affiliate Network, she translates complex data into action, improving quality of care for rural and underserved patients statewide.

She co-leads a major research program at the UI Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and serves as president of the Iowa Cancer Consortium. A committed mentor and educator, Charlton prepares the next generation of public health professionals to advance cancer prevention in Iowa and beyond.