Dr. Tonya J. Webb is a tenured Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She earned her B.S. in Biology/Chemistry at Prairie View A&M University. She completed a doctoral degree in Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University, with studies focused on investigating the role of CD1d1 molecules and NKT cells in antiviral immunity. She conducted postdoctoral fellowships at Indiana University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.  She has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career, including those from the NIH, AACR, and a host of professional and academic societies. She founded a biotech company, WebbCures, LLC.  Dr. Webb also contributes significant time to local and national service to increase diversity and equity in academic medicine and healthcare.  She enjoys mentoring and sharing her experiences with STEM scholars and aspiring scientists.