Biography

I, Todd Lolan Kelson, was born on July 2, 1962 in Glendale, California.  I was raised in Monrovia, CA (a suburb of  Los Angeles).  After spending my first year at BYU, I served a french-speaking mission to Geneva, Switzerland (1982-83).   I returned to BYU after my mission and completed my Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology in 1986.  My family moved to Ames, Iowa where I completed a Master’s degree in Plant Genetics at Iowa State University, after which Richmond, Virginia became our home where I completed a Ph.D. in Human Genetics at the Medical College of Virginia (Virginia Commonwealth University).  In January, 1994, we moved from Virginia to Denver where I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric research at the Mental Retardation Research Center of the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  I completed my fellowship in 1997 and decided to devote the rest of my career to teaching.  After spending a year substitute teaching in Denver public schools, I had the opportunity to come to Rexburg.  In August, 1998, I began my first year teaching in the Biology Department at Ricks College.
I am the proud father of 3 children: Nikki, age 15; D.J., age 12; and Paul, age 11.  I love to cross country ski, downhill ski (no snowboarding for me), rock climb, hike, jog, mountain bike, and camp (in short, anything outdoors). I earned my Scuba diving certification and hope to use it in Hawaii someday.  I sang in the BYU-I Combined Men's Choir that performed at the Priesthood session of General Conference in April, 2002.  I have taken up Swing Dancing and am learning the Lindy Hop.  I have a vegetable garden during the summer that relieves me of all of my frustrations.  I love to sing in my ward choir (I usually sing bass when I am on key), and am currently serving as the Executive Secretary to the Bishop.  On March 5, 2004 I was married to Sara Harlan, a middle school counselor in Rexburg.  Sara, her daughter, Ashton, and I reside in Rexburg.