Visit this page for a full listing of 2016-2017 election results, including Section and Branch Representatives to the Governing Board.
ESA Vice President-Elect - Bob Peterson
Bob Peterson is a professor of entomology at Montana State University, where he leads the research and teaching program in agricultural and biological risk assessment. More specifically, the program is centered on comparative risk assessment and includes biotechnology risk, invasive species risk, and pesticide risk. Additional research areas include insect ecology, plant-stress ecophysiology, and integrated pest management. Bob has authored or co-authored 104 peer-reviewed publications, 13 book chapters, and one book.
He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, including environmental risk assessment, insect ecology, and various special-topics graduate courses. He also directs MSU's online MS program in environmental sciences. He received a B.S. in entomology from Iowa State University (1987), and an M.S. (1991) and PhD (1995) in entomology from the University of Nebraska.
Bob joined ESA in 1985 and has been actively engaged in both program and governance activities consistently throughout his membership. He has been a contributing co-editor of American Entomologist since 2001 and served as Program Chair of the ESA annual meeting in 2007. From 2010-2012, he served on the ESA Governing Board, representing the P-IE Section, and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Governing Board. From 2012-2013, he served as Chair of the ESA Presidential Committee on Science Policy that created the Society's external engagement focus and Science Fellowships. In addition, he has organized numerous scientific symposia within ESA and served on many committees at the Branch, Section, and ESA-Central levels.
ESA Treasurer - Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith, Dow AgroSciences associate R&D director, leads the monocot traits development team, which is responsible for the early stage development of corn trait products. Michelle has been privileged to serve the Entomological Society of America in a number of capacities, including Treasurer for the MUVE Section. Additionally, Michelle has demonstrated a strong and sustained commitment to ESA by contributing as a member on ESA’s Education and Youth Committee, North Central Branch Honorary Awards Committee, Stan Beck Fellowship panel, and interim member of the Governing Board representing MUVE in 2013. She was co-organizer of member symposia at the ESA annual meeting in 2007 and 2010, and co-organizer of a program symposium in 2013. She is currently concluding her third year on the ESA Science Policy Capability Committee.
Michelle has over 20 years of business and R&D experience in pest management, technology transfer, and communications. She joined Dow AgroSciences as a technical service and development specialist in Anaheim, California, and has held several technical specialist and leadership roles within R&D. Contributing to the development of the successful Sentricon termite baiting system is an accomplishment of which she is especially proud. She is a Board Certified Entomologist and certified Six-Sigma Black Belt. Michelle received her B.A. degree in biology from Hollins University and her master's degree in entomology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She enjoys outreach as a Dow AgroSciences science ambassador for science programs directed to children and is a leader of the Dow Women’s Innovation Network.
ESA Student Representative to the Governing Board - Lina Bernaola
Lina Bernaola was born in Lima, Peru. She attended the San Marcos National University, where she got her B.S. in biological sciences and a minor in molecular biology. Her professional experience, as well as her passion in the world of plants, began when she joined the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima to perform her undergraduate thesis. Based on this experience, Lina joined Louisiana State University to pursue her M.S. in agronomy and crop sciences. Her thesis research focused on utilization of molecular markers in assessing genetic diversity in smooth cordgrass and sugarcane. Currently, she is working on her PhD in the Department of Entomology at LSU. Her research project involves investigations of the mechanistic basis of plant resistance against above-ground and below-ground organisms in rice. Primarily, she studies the effects of mycorrhizal fungi, a symbiotic soil-borne organism, on rice resistance to insect herbivores. The ultimate goal of Lina’s research is to help to develop more effective pest management programs in rice. Lina has been actively involved in the Entomological Society of America since 2013. She has presented her research at several national and Southeastern Branch meetings, and has participated on LSU’s Debate team. Her leadership roles within ESA include serving as student representative of the P-IE Governing Council and Student Affairs Committee of the Southeastern Branch-ESA. She is a member of the LSU Entomology Club, also having served as vice president and president. She enjoys conducting educational outreach about insects to kids with the Entomology Club.