Candidates for 2024-2025 ESA Elections

ESA Vice President-Elect

• Peter Jensen, Bayer Crop Science
• Andrew Short, University of Florida

Peter Jensen
Bayer Crop Science

Bio: Peter Jensen is an entomologist with a love for the outdoors and environment. With an M.S. from Montana State studying solitary bees, a Ph.D. from UC Riverside researching bioaccumulation in insect food chains, and postdoctoral work at the University of Maryland linking agriculture with stream ecology, he was never on a straight course but often outdoors. An environmental consulting job followed by a role in environmental risk assessment in agriculture at Bayer Crop Science set him on an unexpectedly fulfilling path. He was fortunate to manage a team, then several teams (up to 6 teams, 65 people) as Entomology Development Platform Lead, with an impact on 12 insect control products), learning more about people, biotechnology, budgets, product research and development, and leadership at Bayer. On weekends he is outdoors with friends or family, usually on a bicycle.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Peter has been a member of ESA since 2000 and has participated in the Annual Meeting most years as a presenter and volunteer. Since 2015 he has volunteered in governance or committees within ESA: PBT Section Governing Council (2015-2018), Annual Meeting Program Committee (2016-2019), PBT Section rep to the Awards and Honors Committee (2020-2022), Chair of the Awards and Honors Committee (2021-2022), ESA Audit Committee (2020-2022), and three ESA focus groups (2021-2024). Peter has coordinated Bayer's PACT mentoring commitments (2021-2024), is a PACT mentor in 2024, and has been a mentor in Bayer formal mentoring programs for eight years. He has served as a corporate partner liaison between ESA and Bayer since 2017, working to coordinate Bayer's presence at the Annual Meeting, including an annual student mixer with 250+ career conversations over the years.

Candidate statement: The last decade has been a whirlwind of change around the world, and I'm thrilled to be a part of an organization like ESA that has reflected and responded with changes of our own. My experiences in ESA leadership roles have been empowering, bringing our volunteers together to listen, share, align, and implement our best ideas to make impactful changes. Through these volunteer roles I am aware of fiscal, demographic, and operational challenges facing ESA, and I want to continue the impressive momentum from our Governing Board on the journey to progressive and sustainable solutions. I bring leadership skills and experience from my roles at Bayer and ESA, humility and respect for ongoing efforts within ESA leadership, and unwavering belief that we can leverage the diversity of our talented members to build the ESA to meet the needs of our Society.

ESA Vice President-Elect statement: My perception of critical issues for the Society and future vision fall within three buckets:

Science: This is the "easy" part.  At our core we are a science-focused organization, and we need to keep this as the north star for our members and meetings. Also in this bucket of strengths are our scientific publications, policy work and influence on greater society, and the recognition of excellence in our membership.

Finance: Like it or not, we must balance our books. This has become increasingly difficult with a shift in publishing trends, a volatile investment market, a need to diversify revenue streams, and our demographic trends. There are no easy answers here. Expert advice, entrepreneurship, trust between members of our Society, and the courage to make tough decisions are the best we can ask for.

Modernization: This is also non-negotiable but perhaps the biggest challenge because, unlike finance, it is a cultural shift, and there are no balance sheets we can use to measure progress. We must continue progress around diversity, inclusion, and equity on top of the courageous steps taken already. Other pressing questions without clear answers: How should we evaluate in-person meetings in a digital world of Zoom meetings and AI? Are there new governing models for our Society that can make us more agile or resilient? Can Sections start up or stop according to membership shifts? The answers can be found within, through good intentions, good communication, and patience with each other as we navigate change together.

Andrew Short
University of Florida

Bio: Dr. Short is professor and chair of the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida. Dr. Short received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in entomology from the University of Delaware and Cornell University, respectively. He joined the faculty at the University of Kansas as a professor and curator of entomology in 2008 until moving to UF in 2023. His research centers on the systematics and evolutionary biology of aquatic insects, as well as the biogeography of South America. He has published over 120 papers in these fields and participated in more than 40 expeditions to survey aquatic insects across the world. He has taught a variety of courses in entomology and biodiversity monitoring. In his current role, he provides leadership to a vibrant and diverse entomological community of more than 250 faculty, staff, and students.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: A member of ESA for 30 years, Dr. Short is serving his second term on the ESA Governing Board as the SysEB Section representative. He also currently serves on the Governing Board's Executive Committee and the ESA Ethics and Rules Committee and as the Governing Board parliamentarian. He has previously served as president of the SysEB Section (2018), chair of the SysEB Awards Committee, co-coordinator of the LGBTQ+ mixer at the Annual Meeting, Governing Board liaison to the Early Career Professionals Committee, and at-large member of the ESA Publications Council. Dr. Short also serves on the Taxonomic Certification Committee for the Society for Freshwater Science. He has previously served on the board of directors for the Natural Science Collections Alliance and the Coleopterists Society.

Candidate statement: ESA has been essential to my development as an entomologist throughout my education and career. I have been privileged to give back to the Society in various volunteer leadership roles within my Section and at the national level over the last 10 years. Should I be elected to this position, I would leverage those experiences and familiarity with the Society's structure and workings to ensure it maintains its status as the international leader for our discipline. Whether influencing policy through advocacy, stimulating collaboration through meetings, or sharing science through our journals, it is essential that ESA remains strong to ensure entomology remains strong.

ESA Vice President-Elect statement: Our discipline has never been more relevant. Whether it's fighting pests and invasive species, preserving biodiversity, or protecting homes and health, entomology and entomologists are essential. Outwardly facing, ESA continues to be uniquely positioned to make the case to policy makers and the public that our work is critical to the future. Internally facing, ESA has a perennial mandate to develop and support all our members. Should I be elected, I will: (1) Be dedicated to ensuring our Society's finances remain strong in a dynamic fiscal climate. ESA is financially healthy, and continued vigilance will ensure this remains true moving forward. This includes exploring both refined budget models and diversification of our core funding streams. (2) Continue ESA's progress in ensuring that entomology is both for and serves all and is representative of our modern society. We have made steady progress in creating a culture of belonging, and I am committed to continuing that essential progress. (3) Respond to emerging challenges and opportunities such as the role of AI, a dynamic publications landscape, and increasing need to support entomology education and educators.

• Gary J. Brewer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Mustapha Debboun, Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District
• Michelle S. Smith, Corteva Agriscience

Gary J. Brewer
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Gary received his Ph.D. in entomology from Kansas State University in 1984. His M.S. in entomology (1978) and B.S. in zoology (1974) were from the University of Nebraska. He joined the entomology department at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 1985 as an assistant professor and was chair from 1999 to 2006. From 2006 through 2018, he was head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Overall, he has served in departmental leadership roles for 21 years.

Gary has been a member of the Entomological Society of America since 1977 and has served on many ESA committees. He was secretary and chair of section Fa, Host Plant Resistance to Insects, and served two terms on the Governing Board as the North Central Branch representative. His service to the North Central Branch has included committees (often as chair), symposia organizer, twice as local arrangements co-chair, and NCB president in 2004-05. An early ESA accomplishment was being a member of the winning team from Kansas State University at the first national Entomology Games competition in San Diego in 1983.

He has provided significant leadership to other relevant organizations. He served as secretary and chair of the Council of Entomology Department Administrators (CEDA), which is now an ESA affiliate organization. He was a member of the Board of Representatives of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), first as the CEDA representative and later to represent ESA. He also chaired the CAST Plant Work Group.

He also provided service to other scientific societies or organizations. He was president of the Kansas Entomological Society in 2018, the UNL Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta in 2019, and the Sigma Xi chapter at North Dakota State University in 1994.

He stepped away from the department head position at UNL after 12 years and rejoined the faculty in 2019 as professor of insect management with research and teaching responsibilities. He is currently teaching a graduate and undergraduate integrated pest management class and an undergraduate crops entomology class. His major research thrust has shifted from crops to veterinary IPM, with emphases on novel strategies and tactics. Other efforts include collaborations in crop IPM systems and conservation of the federally endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle. He has published over 50 refereed papers and has generated more than $4 million in external funding.

Over his career, he has taught 12 different classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including classes taught totally online, and he has been responsible for a large range of degree programs. As department chair or head, he oversaw entomology Ph.D. and M.S. programs at UNL and NDSU. In addition, as the entomology department head at UNL he concurrently managed insect science, forensic science, and applied science undergraduate majors and at NDSU he was coordinator for the plant protection major.

A recent international activity was leading a design team in developing and implementing an experiential-based major in conservation agriculture for the Rwandan Institute for Conservation Agriculture, a Bachelor of Science degree-awarding institution that accepted its first students in the fall of 2019, with the first batch of students graduating in 2023.

Mustapha Debboun
Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District

Dr. Mustapha Debboun is a distinguished member of the U.S. Army Medical Department, an ESA Board Certified Medical and Veterinary Entomologist, educator, and researcher in insect repellents. A native of Morocco, he received his B.A. in cellular and molecular biology from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, an M.S. in entomology from the University of New Hampshire, and a Ph.D. in medical and veterinary entomology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He served 25 years in the U.S. Army Medical Services Corps as a medical and veterinary entomologist in various leadership positions and diverse entomological assignments including four wars (Operations Desert Shield and Storm, Operation Endeavor, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom). Following his retirement from the military as a colonel, he was selected as the director of Harris County (HC) Public Health Mosquito and Vector Control Division, where he directed and led the development and implementation of prevention and control of mosquitoes for the 5 million residents of HC and the City of Houston, and as a general manager of Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District in Visalia, California, where he also provided outstanding mosquito control and surveillance service to the residents of over 15 cities in Tulare County to protect them from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases.

Debboun's extraordinary service to ESA was extensive and impactful. He has been a member since 1985 and participated in 38 Annual Meetings and numerous Branch Meetings and committees. His three decades of outstanding service include ESA Governing Board (GB) member (2019-2022); GB liaison to the Committee on Awards and Honors (2019-2022); vice president and president of the Medical, Urban, & Veterinary Entomology (MUVE) Section (2015-2018); ESA MUVE representative to the Vector-Borne Disease Network (VBDN) (2019-Present); co-developer and organizer of the Joint ESA and American Mosquito Control Association Public Health Entomology Certificate (2015-2018); chair, ESA Editorial Review Board, Journal of Medical Entomology (2014-2016); invited by ESA president Grayson Brown as a team representative to the Global Zika Summit at the Joint Brazilian & Latin American Congress of Entomology in Maceio, Brazil (2016); director, ESA Certification Board (2012-2014); military's liaison to the ESA Certification Board (2004-2014); secretary and president of the former ESA International Affairs Committee (IAC) (2007-2010); organizer and moderator of 23 ESA symposia (2000-Present); judge for ESA graduate and undergraduate student presentations and posters (2000-present); passionate recruiter of military and civilian ESA members to achieve ACE and BCE Certification (2004-present); and currently as a member of the ESA Awards and Honors Canvassing Committee.

Some examples of Debboun's extraordinary and impactful ESA service were: co-forming and assisting the former ESA president Grayson Brown to form the current ESA International Branch when Debboun was the president of the IAC; promoted the formation of MUVE Section as ESA transitioned to a four-Section model; a tireless proponent of ESA who created and promoted a very strong culture of involvement and participation in the ESA among all military entomologists and still currently encourages them to achieve ACE and BCE certification; worked on an important issue of ESA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives while serving as a GB member; invites inclusively domestic and international presenters to his well established, moderated, and attended annual ESA Insect Repellent Symposium; and always strives to make ESA the best Society in the world through his exceptional service.

Debboun has published over 135 peer-reviewed publications, 24 book chapters, and five co-edited books on insect repellents and public healthy entomology. Outside ESA, he is known both nationally and internationally, particularly for his numerous years of global military and civilian significant entomological community outreach and voluntary service to ICE, AMCA, ASTMH, EPA, SOVE, and more. His global military and civilian entomological work have taken him to over 35 different countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America. His main goal has been to provide efficient and sustainable management of disease vectors and human protection from mosquito and vector-borne diseases, using not only conventional means but innovative and integrated vector management, as well.

Some of Debboun's prestigious awards and honors include: American Mosquito Control Association Meritorious Service Award (2021), Fellow of the ESA (2017), U.S. Army Legion of Merit (2014), Distinguished Service Award to the ESA Certification Program (2010), six Army Meritorious Service Medals (1994-2005), two Bronze Star Medals during two wars (2003 and 1991), Order of Military Medical Merit (2003), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (2003), U.S. Army Surgeon General's "A" Professional Proficiency Designator for excellence and expertise in Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2003), and USDA Outstanding Research and Agricultural Service Award (2002).

Michelle S. Smith
Corteva Agriscience

Michelle Smith is recently retired from her role as a research and development (R&D) director leading Seed Applied Technology and Insect and Nematode Management biology and field sciences in Corteva Agriscience R&D. Previously, Michelle held other R&D leadership and technical roles including leading North America field science and leading a global biology team for the Sentricon system.

Michelle has over 30 years of business and R&D experience in pest management, technical education, and communications. Michelle received her B.A. degree from Hollins University and her master's degree in entomology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is a Board Certified Entomologist and has served the Entomological Society of America in numerous capacities including as president in 2021. Michelle is an advocate for women in the fields of agriculture and entomology; she was an early steering team member of the Dow AgroSciences Women's Innovation Network and a driving force behind formation of the ESA Committee on Diversity & Inclusion.

In her 1990 role as a field scientist covering urban pest management in southern California and Arizona, Michelle contributed to the early-stage development of the Sentricon system and supported the structural fumigation and chlorpyrifos household pest businesses. Future roles brought her back into Sentricon development and commercialization. Experiencing a product from discovery to development and contributing toward it becoming a successful commercial business is a unique privilege for any R&D employee.

Michelle's technical scope grew steadily through Indianapolis-based positions in Global Tech Education, Six Sigma, Sentricon Commercial, and Global Biology leadership, working with R&D leaders on communications and strategy. Michelle then led a North America field science specialties team as her first significant people leadership role where she applied her passion for people development.

Michelle crossed R&D platforms to lead the corn Trait Product Development team, which expanded her knowledge, network, and impact beyond crop protection chemistry. These experiences prepared her to lead the North America Field Science team that comprised both crop protection and biotech researchers. She then transitioned to her most recent role leading the global Seed Applied Technology/Insect & Nematode Management biology and field sciences team in crop protection R&D.

Over the years, Michelle has been a strong champion of mentorship at multiple levels and a leader in her 35+ years as a member in the Entomological Society of America. Through varied roles and responsibilities, Michelle has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to people development, diversity and inclusion, team success and continuous learning. Michelle's impact on entomology and the ESA has been magnified through her visibility, advocacy, and enablement of others' contributions.

Student Representative to the ESA Governing Board

• Dayvion Adams, North Carolina State University
• DeShae Dillard, Michigan State University
• Jacqueline Maille, Kansas State University
• Md Tafsir Nur Nabi Rashed, University of Florida

Dayvion Adams
North Carolina State University

Bio: Dayvion completed his undergraduate education and Master of Science degree at Texas A&M University in entomology studying the effects of avian malaria pathogen ingestion on mosquito biology. He then moved to North Carolina State University where he is currently a doctoral candidate studying tick ecology and public health in North Carolina, where tick-borne disease continues to rise. He is broadly interested in vector-borne disease and human and animal health, particularly from a One Health perspective, and integrates a variety of approaches into his research to understand pathogen transmission dynamics. As a trained entomologist, he has a broad perspective on the challenges we face worldwide and will utilize his background to tackle them.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dayvion has been affiliated with ESA for over seven years, having attended nine Southwestern and Southeastern Branch Meetings and eight ESA Annual Meetings. He has regularly participated in student presentation competitions, as well as the Entomology Games. He even won the Entomology Games competition on an undergraduate team in 2017 in Denver, Colorado. At these meetings, he has participated in local public outreach activities hosted by ESA and additionally contributed as a student volunteer intern at two Annual Meetings. If elected, this will be Dayvion's first student representative volunteer position.

Candidate statement: Throughout my participation in ESA, I have gathered an understanding of the challenges that entomologists face in our modern society. I will utilize this experience to contribute to the vision of ESA, while simultaneously representing the interests of the student member body. In particular, I am a strong advocate of diverse perspectives in entomology and will regularly voice this to the ESA Governing Board as it approaches challenges. In a time of contentious political viewpoints, it's important to have a representative that can understand and reason with a variety of perspectives, and I am that person.

DeShae Dillard
Michigan State University

Bio: DeShae Dillard earned a B.A. in biology from Gonzaga University and an M.S. in entomology from North Carolina State University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in entomology and ecology, evolution, and behavior under the guidance of Doug Landis and Hannah Burrack at Michigan State University. Driven by a passion for leveraging entomology as an interdisciplinary science, he has engaged in diverse collaborations spanning from agricultural biotechnology to soil ecology. He is now focused on exploring the diversity of Diptera communities in agriculture and how Diptera can be harnessed as a bioindicator for resilient agricultural systems. DeShae has been an active leader in entomology and, in recognition of his service, recently received the Fred Stehr and Family Fellowship for Service in Entomology from Michigan State University.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: DeShae joined ESA as a student member in 2019. Since 2022, he has served on the Leadership Development Committee and has been the chair for the past two years. In addition, he was selected as a 2023 ESA Science Policy Fellow and continues to engage with additional programming outside of his current commitments (e.g., Swarm the Hill and the governance review session). Outside of ESA he was the president of the Graduate and Undergraduate Entomology Student Society at Michigan State University for 2023-2024 and will continue to serve in that role for 2024-2025. Mentorship within underrepresented communities has been a priority for DeShae, leading him to engage in service through organizations such as Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS).

Candidate statement: As a student of color in entomology, my priority has always been fostering inclusivity and expanding opportunities for underserved communities in science through proactive service and leadership. In pursuit of this goal, my participation in service since joining graduate school has steadily grown to encompass the department, university, community, and broader discipline. I am passionate about expanding leadership opportunities to engage members with no prior experience. As the chair of the Leadership Development Committee, I have gained extensive institutional knowledge of how ESA functions as a society that will be valuable in the ongoing review of governance. As we consider the competencies necessary to serve in ESA leadership, I believe we have the unique opportunity to educate other student members on the skills required to be a successful leader in entomology.

Jacqueline Maille
Kansas State University

Bio: Jacqueline Maille is originally from Lum, Michigan, and completed her B.S. degree in biology at Austin Peay State University in 2016 and her M.S. degree in entomology at Kansas State University in 2019. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate and USDA-NIFA predoctoral fellow in entomology at Kansas State University co-advised by Drs. Erin Scully (USDA-ARS), Rob Morrison (USDA-ARS), and Kun-Yan Zhu (KSU). Her research focuses on filling knowledge gaps in sensory biology of stored product insects for the improvement of behaviorally based management practices. Her research interests include pest management tools, genomics, behavior, toxicology, and environmental conservation.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Jacqueline has been highly involved in ESA and KSU, giving at least 33 presentations at ESA meetings and participating in student activities over five years. She has organized or moderated 16 symposia and served as a judge for the 2023 Rising Stars Awards and the NCB 2024 Undergraduate Research Session. From 2021–2023, she served on NCB SAC as the NCB representative to national SAC. She served as ESA SAC vice chair and is now ESA SAC chair. Throughout 2022–2024, she volunteered as the SAC representative to the Leadership Development Committee. This year, she began a two-year term as an ad hoc member of the FIT Section. At KSU, she has served on various committees, including the Kansas State Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering SUCCEED Program Internal Advisory Board and as vice president of the Popenoe Entomology Club.

Candidate statement: I am passionate about advocating for student interests and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. As the Governing Board student representative, I hope to approachably serve as an accessible liaison between students, the national ESA SAC, and the ESA Governing Board alike. I aim to ensure that student voices are uplifted and concerns are addressed. I am dedicated to the success of ESA student members and will act with a goal-oriented purpose to serve the needs and best interests of our Society.

Md Tafsir Nur Nabi Rashed
University of Florida

Bio: Tafsir is pursuing a doctor of plant medicine and an M.S. in entomology at the University of Florida. In 2021, he received a prestigious scholarship from the U.S. Department of State, leading to a research internship at Mid Florida Research and Education Center. Currently, in Dr. Amanda Hodges's Lab at UF, he studies stink bug feeding preferences while leading the lab's insect-rearing team. He collaborates with growers and scientists of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, investigating the egg parasitoid complex of leaffooted bugs. As part of his collaborative effort, he is currently engaged in collecting parasitoid wasps from Southeast Asia, aiming to contribute to the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Committed to extension and outreach, he participated in over a dozen outreach events and shared IPM knowledge through extension talks.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Tafsir has been actively engaged with the ESA, serving as a Program Committee member for the Southeastern Branch Meeting, SEB Representative on the P-IE Nominations Committee, and moderator for multiple sessions at the ESA Annual and SEB Meetings. He has also organized symposia and seminars for ESA and the UF entomology department, focusing on graduate student professional development. His leadership roles include vice president of the UF Entomology and Nematology Student Organization, where he previously served as fundraising chair, and representing his department at the UF Graduate Student Council. Furthermore, his dedication extends to community service, having actively participated in 13 outreach events over the last two years to promote science education and entomology.

Candidate statement: As a passionate advocate for student engagement, my goal is to contribute to ESA's development by advocating for initiatives that enhance student engagement at ESA meetings. If elected, I will ensure effective communication between students and ESA leadership, driving initiatives that support student growth and address their concerns. My commitment is to foster a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive and contribute to the field of entomology. I will focus on enhancing student participation, promoting professional development opportunities, and fostering an inclusive community. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive community for all student members, advancing ESA's mission and goals.

MUVE Section Vice President-Elect

Sudip Gaire
Rentokil Terminix

Bio: Dr. Sudip Gaire is a principal entomologist at Rentokil Terminix Innovation Center, Dallas, Texas, where he manages projects from early ideation to late stages for developing products for the control of termites and other urban pests. Prior to this, he worked as product development entomologist at Central Life Sciences, Dallas. Before this, he was a postdoc at the University of Kentucky in urban pest management. He earned his Ph.D. (2020) in urban entomology from Purdue University, his M.S. (2016) in urban entomology from New Mexico State University, and his BS (2013) in agriculture from Tribhuvan University. He is the current treasurer of the MUVE Section.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Sudip Gaire is the current treasurer of the MUVE Section. He served in various other leadership roles such as on the MUVE Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee, ESA North Central Branch Early Career Professionals Committee (vice-chair), Society of Overseas Nepalese Entomologists (award chair, president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer), Purdue University Entomology Graduate Student Organization (vice-president, treasurer) and the ESA Diversity and Inclusion Committee (member). Additionally, he has organized various symposiums at ESA emphasizing insect pest management and acted as a judge in several student competitions, such as the MUVE oral and poster sessions. He has been an active member of the ESA and MUVE Section since 2015.

Candidate statement: I am a proud member of the ESA MUVE Section and passionate about giving back to the community. Through my participation on the MUVE Section Executive Committee, I will keep working to foster an outstanding scientific community based on mentoring, support, tolerance, and respect for one another at all levels. With my prior experiences in a variety of leadership positions including MUVE Section treasurer, I am confident in my ability to further enrich, engage, and empower the medical, urban, and veterinary entomology community in various aspects and participation.

PBT Section Vice President-Elect

• Priya Chakrabarti Basu, Mississippi State University
• Ana R. Cabrera, Bayer CropScience

Priya Chakrabarti Basu
Mississippi State University

Bio: Priya Chakrabarti Basu is an assistant professor at Mississippi State University. She studies the interactive impacts of multiple stressors on bees (poor nutrition, diseases, pesticides and climate change). She uses a wide array of multidisciplinary techniques across fields such as physiology, toxicology, functional biology, multiomics-based approaches, and neuroethology to address her research questions. She was fortunate to be the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee Chair and also served on the ESA Leadership Development Committee. Apart from research and teaching, she is actively involved in outreach and is also a children's book author to spread pollinator awareness among young readers. An immigrant from India, home to countless bee species, Priya's love for pollinators and the environment is deep-rooted through her life experiences and her upbringing.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Priya is an active member of both Pacific and Southeastern Branches and the PBT section. She was chair of the ESA ECP Committee, member of the Leadership Development Committee, and chaired the Standout ECP series for Entomology Today. On the ECP Committee, she organized mixers and various webinars, symposia, and workshops at both Branch and Annual Meetings. Most important, she was instrumental in creating ECP Town Halls, surveys, and an ECP career webinar series. She was an active mentor for the EntoMentos program and continues to be a volunteer judge for student competitions, moderator for various symposia, and volunteer for numerous PBT activities. She is also secretary/treasurer of American Association of Professional Apiculturists, chair of the multistate bee research group, and vice president for Mississippi Entomological Association.

Candidate statement: My beliefs are built upon my multicultural, diverse background. My experience was enriching when I had the honor of representing PBT on the ESA ECP Committee. I bring values, understanding, and skills to meet the PBT Section's needs. I also bring humility and respect for ESA's continuing endeavors and what the members uphold. I want to create a diverse, inclusive, and transparent environment by reaching out to all PBT members, bridging gaps with other ESA leaders and volunteers, advocating for diverse participation, acknowledging emerging talents, empowering members to make impactful changes, and creating mentoring opportunities across PBT. I will facilitate brainstorming sessions to create a list of important scientific and outreach goals for PBT; bolster PBT activities, symposia and workshops at Branch and Annual Meetings; and engage PBT members in ESA activities.

Ana R. Cabrera
Bayer CropScience

Bio: Ana pursued a B.S. degree in agriculture at Zamorano University, where she developed a keen interest in pest management and entomology. This foundational step led her to the United States, where she completed a M.S. degree in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by a Ph.D. in entomology from North Carolina State University. Ana's postdoctoral endeavors took her to the United States Department of Agriculture and University of Florida, focusing on pollinator-related topics. These experiences led Ana to an industry career when she joined Bayer CropScience in 2014 as a pollinator safety expert and scientist. In this capacity, Ana works on regulatory sciences, supporting global product registration, co-directing a research laboratory, and enabling cross-institutional collaborations.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Since joining ESA in 2003, Ana has actively engaged in its Annual Meetings, presented her research, participated in the Entomology Games, and, since 2021, co-organized the Latin/Hispanic Symposium. This involvement led to the establishment of the SomosEnto community, aimed at elevating Latin/Hispanic entomologists and their contributions to science. In addition, Ana has dedicated herself to mentoring students through the EntoMentos program since 2022. She also enhances the PBT Section's visibility by managing its social media, promoting awards, judging competitions, organizing webinars, and spotlighting PBT members. Beyond her ESA contributions, Ana serves as the vice-chair of the Pollinator Research Task Force, a pivotal industry group supporting the pollinator risk assessment framework in the U.S.

Candidate statement: As an ESA member, I've found inspiration and support from the Society vital to my career. Now, as a candidate for the PBT Section VP-elect, I aim to extend that support to future entomologists. My leadership is guided by the belief in the power of collaboration, where collective efforts surpass individual contributions. My immigrant experience has equipped me to not only bridge cultures and languages but also to foster connections that enhance collaboration, advance science, and procure resources. I want to bring these skills to this leadership role and make our PBT community stronger. I'm committed to leveraging the PBT Section's potential to positively impact society and the environment. Together, we can achieve remarkable outcomes.

PBT Section Representative to the ESA Publications Council

Umut Toprak
Professor, Ankara University

Bio: Umut Toprak is a professor at Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture, Turkey, and currently leads the Molecular Entomology Lab. Dr. Toprak completed his Ph.D. at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, in the Deptartment of Biology in 2011 and has also worked as a visiting scholar at Purdue University, Iowa State University, and Christian Albrechts University. Dr. Toprak's expertise is molecular insect physiology, biochemistry, and pathology, with a specific focus on insect digestive physiology, lipid metabolism, diapause physiology, and host-pathogen interactions. His ultimate goal is the development of novel pest control strategies targeting insect physiological systems using dsRNA, spider venoms, or microorganisms. Dr. Toprak has acquired research funds with a budget of over $2,500,000 and published over 70 papers cited around 2,500 times.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Toprak has been an ESA member since 2005, worked as PBT Section representative to the Publication Council, and was involved in the ESA Publication Ethics and Editor Recruitment subcommittees. Dr. Toprak organized various symposiums: "From Fat to Fact: Recent Insights on Insect Lipid Metabolism" (ESA, St. Louis, 2019), "Multiple Layers of Host-Pathogens Interactions" (SIP, Valencia, Spain, 2019), and "The Peritrophic Matrix" (ESA, Denver, 2017). Other events chaired are the 2nd Molecular Plant Protection Congress-IMPPC2023, IMPPC2019, and the 5th Microbial Control Congress. Dr. Toprak recently served as an organization committee member for the XII European Congress of Entomology and was responsible for the organization of physiology and biochemistry sessions. Dr. Toprak currently serves as regional ambassador of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology.

Candidate statement: I have had the chance to be involved in the editorial operations of various top journals such as the Journal of Insect Physiology, Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Insect Molecular Biology, and Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. This allowed me to gain a great deal of editorial and publication experience, and I would like to use this experience to contribute into the improvement of ESA journals and publication policies. My other goals in this role will be the preparation of special issues in ESA journals and the organization of symposiums for grad students and early career fellows on publication hints and improvement of their writing skills. I hope to be a bridge between the PBT and the ESA Publication Council and help members with their questions on publication issues to the best of my knowledge.

P-IE Section Vice President-Elect

Katelyn Kesheimer
Bayer

Bio: Katelyn Kesheimer currently serves an entomology team lead with Bayer in western Tennessee. Previous positions include extension faculty with Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) agent with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. She holds an M.S. degree in biology from Eastern Illinois University and Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Kentucky. Past and current research has centered around plant protection, including biological control and resistance management. Throughout her career, Katelyn has held various leadership positions working with a diverse group of scientists, educators, and the general public and chaired regional and national entomological working groups.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Katelyn has been an active member with ESA since joining in 2009 and continues to engage in service and outreach across her positions. Within ESA, Katelyn has served on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and P-IE Nominations Committee and has been vice chair and chair of the Early Career Professionals (ECP) Committee. She consistently volunteers as moderator and judge at the Annual and Branch Meetings and has been on award and grant application panels. Katelyn has helped organize various events within ESA, including symposia, workshops, lunch and learns, webinars, and mixers. She currently serves as a subject editor and communications editor for the Journal of Integrated Pest Management.

Candidate statement: My involvement with ESA has provided me with fantastic experiences and opportunities, both professionally and personally. I find great value in the Society and its members and am committed to serving as a volunteer, which is why I am excited about the opportunity to be P-IE Section Vice President-Elect. My background across extension, academia, and industry has introduced me to a diverse group of entomologists, and I hope to leverage that network to bring even more voices and ideas to the Section. I aim to combine my passions for the discipline, leadership, and advocacy to provide opportunities for entomologists across all career stages.

P-IE Section Representative to the ESA Governing Board

• Surendra Dara, Oregon State University
• Rob Morrison, USDA-ARS

Surendra Dara
Oregon State University

Bio: Dr. Surendra Dara is an entomologist with 25+ years of experience working on numerous species of invasive and endemic pests. His research and extension work in small fruits and vegetables on IPM, microbial control, and other biological solutions promoting sustainable agriculture is known locally, regionally, and internationally. He has authored or co-authored more than 400 scientific and extension articles, which include three co-edited books, four co-edited special issues of journals, 25 book chapters, and 58 peer-reviewed journal articles. He has extensive international outreach experience training farmers in Africa, Asia, Central America, and Eastern Europe. He has received multiple awards, recognized for multiple impact stories, and is a frequent speaker at scientific and extension meetings.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Dara has held multiple roles at the Pacific Branch, served as the co-chair of Annual Meetings and vice president and president of P-IE Section, organized multiple symposia, and served as a judge/moderator at several Branch and Annual Meetings. He has also reviewed nominations for multiple Branch and Section awards and mentored students and early career professionals through the EntoMentos program. He has been a subject editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology and is a frequent reviewer for several journal articles. He supports and actively participates in various initiatives within and outside ESA that promote the success of undergraduate and graduate students, STEM education, extension education, and public engagement about insects and sustainable food production.

Candidate statement: As an active member of ESA for 30+ years with a deep understanding of and commitment to its mission and vision, I am excited for the opportunity to serve as a Governing Board member. I would use my experience, leadership skills, strategic planning, and collaborative approach to serve the needs of every member; support inclusive excellence; increase engagement with members, public, and policy makers; advance entomological research, teaching, and extension efforts; support science literacy and related policies; and explore various opportunities to increase the impact of ESA, its members, and their outstanding work regionally, nationally, and internationally in addressing global challenges, including food security, biodiversity, and environmental and human health.

Rob Morrison
USDA-ARS

Bio: Dr. Rob Morrison is a research entomologist at the USDA-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research in Manhattan, Kansas, where his research involves elucidating behavioral and chemical ecology and improving IPM of stored product insects. The goal of his research is to develop behavior-based management programs for insects after harvest. He graduated with a B.A. in biology from Kalamazoo College in Michigan, then with an M.S. in ecology and evolution from the University of Munich in Germany. In 2014, he received a Ph.D. from the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University. From 2014–2016, Rob was a postdoctoral researcher at the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station. He has published 100+ peer-reviewed manuscripts and obtained $13 million+ in extramural funding, and he and his students have given 350+ presentations in 40+ U.S. states and 10+ countries.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Morrison's history of service for ESA spans over a decade, and he considers ESA his professional home. Rob is serving as the P-IE rep and chair of the ESA Awards and Honors Committee and as the current P-IE rep on the ESA Governing Board. Other recent elected roles include member-at-large of the NCB Executive Team. He served as vice-chair and chair of the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee from 2015–2018. In the past, he has served on 20+ committees, taskforces, and judging panels for ESA, including the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, P-IE Nominations Committee, P-IE Invasive Species Field Tour, and the Canvassing for Awards and Honors Committee. He has served as a judge for student P-IE competitions at 13 ESA meetings. Dr. Morrison serves as subject editor of behavior for Environmental Entomology and associate editor for Journal of Economic Entomology.

Candidate statement: I have a "big tent" view of P-IE and believe that we should be the most responsive, inclusive Section among those in ESA. In my own lab's culture, I have always tried to bring the least enfranchised voices to the table and have tried to lift everyone up, because I believe we are nothing if we are not a team that supports each other. I will bring this same worldview to my leadership on the ESA Governing Board and make sure that we are addressing the needs of all members, including noticing who is not being included, and make an effort to bring in those members to ESA. ESA is only vibrant because it adapts with the times and adjusts to the needs of all our members. My vision is for ESA to be one of the most inclusive, vibrant, and dynamic professional societies in the biological sciences so we can meet whatever challenges are ahead.

Student Representative to the P-IE Section Governing Council

• Brynn Johnson, University of Florida
• Macey Keith, University of Arizona

Brynn Johnson
University of Florida

Bio: Brynn L. Johnson-Chace is a dedicated entomologist working toward her eoctorate in entomology and nematology, with a focus on agricultural pest management and honey bee health. With a master's degree in entomology and nematology and a bachelor's in psychology, she brings a diverse academic background to her research. Brynn's leadership qualities shine through her extensive involvement in teaching and outreach activities. As a volunteer leader, she aims to foster collaboration and inclusivity within ESA, advocating for the diverse needs and perspectives of its members. Through effective communication and strategic planning, she strives to advance ESA's mission and support its community of entomologists.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Brynn L. Johnson-Chace has been an active member of ESA since July 2023, engaging in various capacities to support the entomological community. She has served as a member of ESA, contributing to discussions and initiatives aimed at advancing the field. In 2024, Brynn achieved first place in the ESA Southeastern Branch Ph.D. Student Competition, highlighting her excellence in research and presentation skills. Additionally, she has participated in volunteer activities within entomology clubs, showcasing her dedication to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among fellow entomologists. Through her involvement, Brynn has demonstrated a commitment to mentorship and the advancement of scientific knowledge within the entomological community.

Candidate statement: I am honored to be nominated for this volunteer position within ESA. If elected, I am committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusivity within our community. My vision is to facilitate knowledge-sharing and interdisciplinary partnerships, empowering members to tackle entomological challenges collectively. I bring a strong dedication to mentorship and advocacy for diversity and equity in science. Together, we can advance ESA's mission and amplify the impact of entomology on society. I am excited about the opportunity to serve and contribute to the growth and success of our organization.

Macey Keith
University of Arizona

Bio: Macey received her undergraduate degree in agricultural technology management and education from the University of Arizona and was able to obtain her Arizona Pest Control Advisor (PCA) license in 2015 where she scouted conventional and organic vegetables for pests in the desert southwest. Currently in a chemical supplier role, Macey managed a geographical region working with PCAs and growers while working toward receiving her M.S. in entomology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May 2024. She will begin her Ph.D. studies at the University of Arizona Entomology and Insect Science program in August 2024 under the advisement of Dr. Peter C. Ellsworth, where she has a full research assistantship through the department.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Being a new member to the ESA, Macey has hit the ground running as a member. Attending the Pacific Branch Meeting this past April, she co-organized a symposium titled "Careers in IPM" where she presented "Balancing Worklife Harmony" and also presented in the "What's New in Industry" symposium giving an update on one of her bioinsecticides. Within her community, Macey is active with FFA chapters and is president of the agricultural advisory board at the local community college. She is also involved with other industry organizations for pest control advisors such as CAPCA and AZCPA.

Candidate statement: I bring a passionate commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry. With a focus on fostering collaborations, providing valuable resources, and creating networking opportunities, I aim to empower students to thrive in their chosen fields and make meaningful contributions to the industry upon graduation. Together, we can build a stronger connection between education and real-world application through preparing students for successful careers.

ECP Representative to the P-IE Section Governing Council

• Emilie Demard, University of Florida
• Rachel R. Harman, USDA-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research

Emilie Demard
University of Florida

Bio: Emilie Demard graduated with a master's degree in agronomic engineering from France in 2016. She started a Ph.D. in entomology in 2018 under the supervision of Dr. Qureshi at the University of Florida. Her research focused on the management of phytophagous mites in citrus under protective screen. This work led to the publication of three first-author publications in high-quality journals and several extension publications. In August 2022, she joined Dr. Diepenbrock's lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Her role is to evaluate new integrated management tactics and better understand the feeding behavior of key pests in citrus using electropenetrography techniques. Emilie's research area focuses on biological control, integrated pest management, and acarology.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Emilie Demard served as a judge and moderator for student competitions at several ESA Annual and Branch Meetings. Since 2020, Emilie has co-organized and co-moderated three symposia for the Acarological Society of America (ASA). For the 2024 ESA Annual Meeting, Emilie is co-organizing a Member Symposium and a Section Symposium. She has been a member at large of the SEB since 2024 and a member of the ASA governing board since 2021. Emilie is also a member of the Postdoc Affairs Advisory Committee of the University of Florida and a member of the CREC Educational Engagement in Plant Science, a student and postdoctoral organization that aims to educate the local community about plant science through outreach.

Candidate statement: I have experience with volunteering in a professional organization via the Acarological Society of America (ASA) and Southeastern Branch (SEB). As a postdoctoral researcher, I would like to increase the visibility and role of early career professionals at the national level. I am also a woman and a first-generation college student, so it is important to me to help minorities navigate grad school and academia to make sure they get the same opportunities as others. To increase diversity and inclusion, I also try to advocate for entomology at the middle school and high school levels through outreach events. My enthusiasm, self-motivation, and ability to work well in a team make me a good candidate for this role.

Rachel R. Harman
USDA-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research

Bio: Dr. Rachel Harman is a landscape and behavioral ecologist using hypothesis-driven research to understand the effects of anthropogenic changes, primarily climate change and habitat fragmentation, on plant-insect interactions and insect movement. Her work scales from mesocosm to field and from the behavior of an individual in a single patch to community-level phenotypic selection over multiple generations in a landscape. In 2020, she received a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, researching density-dependent emigration and range expansion. She was a postdoc at Kansas State University, where she researched spillover effects of insects in agricultural systems and developed inquiry-based curriculum. Currently, she is a postdoc at USDA-ARS-CGAHR, where she is developing models of the potential distribution and movement of stored-product pests.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Rachel Harman has presented at several North Central Branch and ESA Annual Meetings since 2021. She is currently serving on the P-IE Nominations Committee. She was a member of the judging panel for the Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award in 2022 (NCB Representative) and the Rising Stars of Entomology Award in 2023. Dr. Harman was a member of the Kansas State Entomology Department Planning Committee from 2020 to 2022 and vice president of the Louisiana State University Biograds club from 2016-2019. She has coordinated several outreach events at local elementary schools, providing opportunities for graduate students and early career professionals to teach children science.

Candidate statement: As the representative for early career professionals, I plan to take steps to normalize parenthood. Many of those in their early careers are new parents, soon-to-be parents, or wondering if they can manage the work–home balance that comes with children. Parenthood is almost a taboo subject among researchers. I am a mother and have attended conferences with my baby. Several young professionals and students have approached me, thanking me for being a proud mom because they have been told it is impossible to be both a parent and a researcher. I want to 1) showcase ESA parents as role models, 2) provide techniques that can help others balance research and parenthood, and 3) find other ways to support ESA members who are parents. This group is not small, but they have a small voice, and many biases persist that must be addressed.

SysEB Section Vice President-Elect

• Paul Frandsen, Brigham Young University
• JoVonn G. Hill, Mississippi State University/Mississippi Entomological Museum
• M. Andrew Johnston, Purdue University
• Aram Mikaelyan, North Carolina State University
• Gareth Powell, North Carolina State University

Paul Frandsen
Brigham Young University

Bio: Paul earned his Ph.D. in entomology from Rutgers University. His dissertation was focused on the automatic selection of phylogenetic models and the phylogenetics of caddisflies. Following his Ph.D., Paul joined the Smithsonian Institution as a research data scientist and co-founded the Data Science Lab. His work at the Smithsonian was focused on facilitating "big data" research on genomics and museum collections. After three years at the Smithsonian, he joined Brigham Young University in the Plant and Wildlife Sciences Department where he is an associate professor of genetics. His current research is focused on biodiversity genomics with a special emphasis on caddisfly silk.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Paul has been a member of SysEB within ESA since he started as a Ph.D. student. He is an active supporter of ESA programs and activities and is committed to introducing students to the Society. Outside of ESA, Paul is passionate about training students in bioinformatics and genomic analysis and has volunteered his time to teach several workshops to facilitate learning.

Candidate statement: SysEB has played a vital role in my development as a scientist, and I am eager to have an opportunity to give back. One of my goals in this position would be to continue to develop opportunities for students and early career researchers to connect with a supportive network of colleagues in our section. I would work to expand the already impressive amount of support for students to attend Annual Meetings and to develop new ways for students and early career researchers to connect with each other and other potential collaborators in SysEB. I would also continue to advocate for the support of insect biodiversity science, both within and outside of ESA.

JoVonn G. Hill
Mississippi State University/Mississippi Entomological Museum

Bio: JoVonn Hill has been employed at the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM) at Mississippi State University (MSU) since 2006. Initially serving as staff, he became interim director in 2020 and was appointed director and assistant professor in 2021. He now oversees a team of 12 entomologists. Dr. Hill holds three degrees from MSU: a B.S. in interdisciplinary science (biology, wildlife, forestry), 2002; an M.S. in agriculture and life science, 2006; and a Ph.D. in entomology 2015. His expertise includes ant and grasshopper taxonomy, systematics, and ecology as well as rare ecosystems of southeastern North America. Currently, he is working on the third volume of the Grasshoppers of North America and a population-level phylogeny of the Melanoplinae of North America and Mexico, both funded by the NSF. He has successfully graduated two M.S. students and currently advises six.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Hill has intermittently been a member of ESA since 2006. He and his team from the MEM have organized outreach events at Southeastern Branch Meetings in 2019 and 2021 and a workshop, "Quality Insect Photography Using Smart Phone Cameras," at the 2023 Annual Meeting. Dr. Hill served as president of the Association of Mississippi Entomologists, Plant Pathologists, and Nematologists (2021-2023) and the Mississippi Native Plant Society (2017-2019). He is the editor-in-chief of the Transactions of the American Entomological Society (2015-present) and the Memoirs of the American Entomological Society (2020-present) and was interim editor of MidSouth Entomologist in 2021. Privately, he was president of the Black Jack Development Council (2014-2016) and is a board member of the Black Jack Water Association (2019-present).

Candidate statement: I am honored to be nominated for VP-elect of SysEB. Since 2006, I've been active with ESA, organizing outreach events and workshops to promote entomology. I've led or served on the board of several professional and public organizations and have editorial experience with three small journals. My goal in this role would be to increase SysEB Section participation and attendance at the Southeastern Branch Meetings, which typically has low attendance. I would also like to work with the ESA outreach committee to facilitate translating the systematic research of our members into engaging educational materials for a public audience. I also believe collaboration, innovation, and education with our student members is important for their professional development and growth of the Section. With proven leadership in community improvement, I am dedicated to advancing ESA's mission.

M. Andrew Johnston
Purdue University

Bio: Andrew is a beetle systematist with broad interests in biogeography, taxonomy, and faunistics with a focus on Tenebrionoidea (darkling beetles and their relatives). He earned a B.S. in entomology from the University of Delaware and M.S. and Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from Arizona State University. Andrew previously worked as the invertebrate collections manager for the National Ecological Observatory Network Biorepository where he managed both physical samples and associated metadata. He is now an assistant professor and insect diagnostician in the Department of Entomology at Purdue University.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Andrew has been a member of ESA and SysEB since 2012 where he has helped organize Member Symposia and presented at both Branch and Annual Meetings. He is currently the vice president of the Entomological Collections Network (ECN, since 2022) where he is responsible to coordinate both meeting logistics and communication between ECN and ESA. Andrew is also a lifetime member of the Coleopterists Society, where he has served on the leadership council and continues to serve on their awards committee. He also serves as subject editor for several entomological journals.

Candidate statement: I am very excited at the prospect of serving my colleagues in the Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity Section! As part of the leadership team, I will continue SysEB's tradition of supporting and involving student members and early career professionals from diverse backgrounds within the Section and Society. In particular, I would work to maintain the successful Entomological Collections Management Workshop co-sponsored by SysEB and ECN and look toward new opportunities for these types of training programs. I will also seek out opportunities created by the 2022 CHIPS for America Act, which specifically outlines the creation of an action center for biological collections—an initiative where SysEB's voices should be heard.

Aram Mikaelyan
North Carolina State University

Bio: Aram Mikaelyan is an assistant professor of entomology at North Carolina State University since 2018. His research focuses on trophic specialization in insects and has led to significant insights into symbiotic digestion in insects, including the development of taxonomic reference databases for insect-associated symbionts. He has secured multiple prestigious fellowships and successfully led grants from federal agencies and industry partners. Passionate about education, he teaches courses on insect physiology and evolution and has successfully mentored researchers at all levels. Aram is actively engaged in outreach, developing K-12 school curricula, and in extension to the urban entomology community. He aims to inspire future entomologists and bridge the gap between research and practical applications.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: As a member of the Entomological Society of America, Aram has participated in Annual Meetings, contributed to symposiums, and collaborated on various initiatives to advance entomological research. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiomes and has guest-edited for Frontiers in Microbiology and Frontiers in Marine Science. As part of the advisory council for the World Bioprotection Forum (WBF), he identifies critical research gaps and policy needs to advance sustainable pest control applications. He has contributed to developing outreach programs to enhance educator-researcher engagement and served as a reviewer for funding bodies worldwide. Finally, he contributes to extension workshops and serves as a scientific advisor for a startup company.

Candidate statement: I am seeking this leadership role to bring impactful changes to SysEB. My vision is to: 1) collaborate with DEI committees across related societies to promote underrepresented groups in SysEB; 2) develop initiatives inspired by successful models like the Society of Systematic Biologists' GraSP committee to support early-career researchers; 3) organize meetings to address critical research gaps within SysEB; 4) work with related societies to host joint meetings, enhancing cross-society collaboration; and 5) create initiatives focused on biodiversity conservation. With my WBF role concluding, I am excited to focus on goals within SysEB. My passion for advancing the field and fostering inclusivity and mentorship drives my commitment to these shared objectives.

Gareth Powell
North Carolina State University

Bio: Gareth received both his B.S. and M.S. in entomology from Purdue and then earned a Ph.D. from BYU. A postdoctoral fellowship allowed him to investigate the origins and timing of beetle bioluminescence while maintaining a focus on student mentorship. Gareth served as the research curator at the Florida State Collection of Arthropods before accepting his current position as assistant professor of insect biodiversity and director of the Insect Museum at NC State. His areas of interest include descriptive taxonomy, systematics, and evolution, all of which are done with the help of both natural history collections and large-scale phylogenomics. He has authored or coauthored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications to date and is an active collaborator on several large efforts focused on biodiversity research, taxonomic training, and advocacy for natural history museums.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Gareth has been an active member of the Entomological Society of America and specifically the SysEB Section since 2013, attending all Annual Meetings during that time and several other events. He has helped to coordinate the Triplehorn Curation Challenge at Branch Meetings and helped train students to compete in the Entomology Games. Gareth has served as a student competition judge each year since he was eligible and, as a past winner of several ESA student awards, looks forward to helping to evaluate future applications for these honors. Gareth has also volunteered his time with the Center for Systematic Entomology, the Lepidopterists Society, and the Coleopterists Society in various ways, helping to run elections, review for special publications, help organize meetings, and judge award applications, all of which he looks forward to continuing to help with.

Candidate statement: I am very motivated to give back to our Society, and I think there are real contributions I can make at this stage in my career. Right now, I am at the perfect stage to still understand the needs of our student membership while also now having the perspective of a faculty member tasked with teaching entomology, leading a large insect museum, and facilitating systematics research at a high level. This allows me to relate to the vast majority of our membership in very tangible ways. If elected, my main areas of focus would include: 1) student research support, specifically mentoring support around publishing research, especially within societal journals, 2) coordinating special symposia on the effective communication of biodiversity challenges in the current funding landscape, and 3) strengthening relationships with relevant societies and institutions.

Eastern Branch Representative to the ESA Governing Board

Don Weber
USDA Agricultural Research Service

Bio: Don Weber grew up in northern Virginia, received his B.A. at Williams College and M.S. (Entomology) at UC Berkeley with research on cole crop pests, and pursued his interest in fruit and vegetable IPM. Don's UMass Ph.D. work researched the biology and dispersal of Colorado potato beetle. After a stint at ETH Zurich, Don joined Ocean Spray Cranberries, where he developed environmentally friendly IPM strategies for all growing regions. In 2002, he joined the Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory of USDA's Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland, as research entomologist and lead scientist, contributing to sustainable IPM tactics such as natural enemies and pheromones for major vegetable pests, especially leaf beetles and true bugs. He is author of over 100 refereed publications and eight book chapters and coauthor of a biography of CV Riley.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Don is the current EB Governing Board representative, book reviews editor for American Entomologist, and subject editor for JEE and JIPM. Always active with ESA and Eastern Branch, Don has organized 15 ESA symposia, judging 20+ student paper/poster competitions. He was EB President 2017-18; twice EB rep and chair, national Awards Committee; and EB rep, Science Policy Committee, 2019-22. Don is also president of the Entomological Society of Washington and previously served as IOBC Regional President (2015-16), and chair of Northeast SARE Administrative Council (2013-18). He has served on grants and fellowship panels including NIFA, AAFC Canada, USAID, and AAAS. He was Arlington, Virginia, 2010 Volunteer of the Year for the People's Garden at Central Library and recipient of USDA ARS NE Area's Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity Supervisory Award (2015).

Candidate statement: I hope to again faithfully represent the Eastern Branch on the Governing Board. ESA has made tremendous progress serving the members in an efficient, inclusive, and financially stable manner. We will face new and continuing challenges though, which I think will include: making sure our Society's governance meets the needs of all members while ensuring sustainable management and finance for the future; continuing to welcome and promote diversity and meaningfulness for all members; figuring out how best to adapt our various publications and outlets, for ESA and all its members; and optimizing our meetings to support member needs and preferences. This list is never complete. I want to know your priorities for your Society! I am ready and willing to promote the priorities of all Eastern Branch members. For your own part, consider getting involved with ESA as a volunteer!

International Branch President-Elect

Jessica Awad
State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart

Bio: Jessica Awad holds a doctorate in biology from the University of Hohenheim and master's and bachelor's degrees in entomology from the University of Florida. She currently works as a researcher at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany, where she focuses on resolving taxonomic issues in platygastrine parasitoid wasps. Her research interests include the evolution and ecology of gall midge parasitoids, the development of diagnostic resources for agricultural and ecological research, and improving the digitization of historical insect and gall specimens. Honors include the John Henry Comstock Award, a Rising Stars of Entomology presentation, a SYNTHESYS+ Transmational Access Grant, and a SysEB Student Travel Award.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Jessica has been a member of ESA since undergrad and joined the International Branch in 2020, when she moved to Germany for her doctoral studies. She currently serves as International Branch Representative to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and is a member of the Insect Decline Task Force. As a student, she was a regular participant in the Student Competition for the President's Prize and the Entomology Games. Additionally, she is involved with the International Society of Hymenopterists, where she serves as Student and Early Career Representative, chairperson of the international online conference Hymathon, and member of the Journal of Hymenoptera Research article processing charges waiver committee.

Candidate statement: I have been very grateful to the International Branch for keeping me connected with ESA during my studies in Germany, and I would be honored to give back to the Branch and the Society through volunteering for an elected position. If elected, I would prioritize maintaining and strengthening connections between international ESA members and those residing in the U.S., as well as expanding membership among the international community. Our virtual Branch Meeting is a great way to promote these connections, and I would bring experience organizing similar online conferences from my work with the International Society of Hymenopterists. My values support inclusivity, accessibility, and representation of more countries and backgrounds.

International Branch Representative to the ESA Governing Board

Rory McDonnell
Oregon State University

Bio: Dr. Rory McDonnell is from Ireland and received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in applied ecology from the University of Galway. He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Oregon State University. His program is focused on 1) understanding the ecology of invasive invertebrates in agriculture, horticulture, urban areas, the natural environment, and at the interface of these systems; and 2) developing and implementing novel strategies for the management of these pests. He has acquired $6 million+ in funding as lead PI or a member of a consortium, of which $2.5 million+ has been exclusively for his internationally recognized program. He has published 75 papers in leading journals in his field; is an inventor on two patents; has presented his research at 68 regional, national, and international meetings; and is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Rory has been a member of ESA since 2006. He has been an active member of the International Branch since its inception in 2010 and has served on the Awards Committee (2010-2013), as chair of the Awards Committee (2013-2015), and as Branch secretary (2015-2020) and president (2020-2023). He has also played key roles in defining Branch policy and in organizing the annual International Branch Virtual Symposium, which is attended by researchers from around the world. Rory played a central role in establishing grants for students and researchers who are experiencing financial hardship or are from developing countries to participate in the International Branch Virtual Symposium.

Candidate statement: I have been an engaged and active member of the International Branch since it was formed in 2010. For example, I have chaired the Awards Committee and served as both secretary and president on the Executive Committee. This experience with the International Branch places me in a unique position to serve as the Branch representative on the Governing Board of ESA because I am very familiar with the opportunities the Branch has to grow but also the challenges it faces. My goals will be to ensure our Branch has an impactful voice on the Governing Board of ESA, to serve the needs of and create meaningful opportunities for our members, and to ensure our Branch and ESA continue to grow.

Southwestern Branch Representative to the ESA Governing Board

• Megha N. Parajulee, Texas A&M University AgriLife Research
• Justin Talley, Oklahoma State University

Megha N. Parajulee
Texas A&M University AgriLife Research

Bio: Megha Parajulee earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and joined Texas A&M University in 1994, where he is now a regents fellow professor and cotton entomology program leader. Dr. Parajulee's research combines basic and applied research in cropping systems agriculture to develop production strategies for sustainable farm profitability. He is a leader in cropping systems research, with 130 refereed and 330 non-refereed publications, 165 invited and 350 submitted presentations, approximately $10 million in grant support, and 35 M.S. /Ph.D. students mentored during his 30 years at Texas A&M. Dr. Parajulee's recognitions include Vice Chancellor's Award in Research Excellence, AgriLife Faculty Fellow Award, Regents Fellow Award, Fulbright Senior Scholar in Nepal and Uzbekistan, ESA IPM Excellence Award, and USDA Southern Region IPM Hall of Fame Award.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: As an ESA member since 1991, Dr. Parajulee has served ESA in many roles including meeting moderator; Plenary, Section, and Member Symposia organizer; local arrangements organizer; and student paper judge throughout his 33-year membership with ESA at both regional and national levels. At national level, he served as secretary (2002), vice-chair (2003), and chair (2004) of ESA Subsection Cd; was elected ESA International Affairs Committee member (2006-2012), secretary (2006), vice chair (2007), and chair (2008); president, Society of Southwestern Entomologists (2009); ESA National Program Committee (2009-2011, Chair 2010); president-elect (2015-2016) and president (2016-2017) of the ESA International Branch; ESA Science Policy Committee (2020-2023); and Awards Committee (2022-2025).

Candidate statement: If I had the honor to represent my Branch as a Governing Board member at ESA, it would be among the most professionally and personally gratifying opportunities of my career. In this role, I would focus on utilizing my lifelong service experience to aid the Board in achieving our collective objectives. Additionally, I would cherish the opportunity to demonstrate my full commitment to promoting the value of ESA membership to every member in the organization. I firmly believe that my experience, commitment, and passion for this role will be beneficial to all members across the varied disciplinary cross-sections of entomological research, teaching, outreach, and service excellence. I believe the strength of the Board will shape the unity and direction of the organization as a whole, and I would be humbled to contribute to this mission.

Justin Talley
Oklahoma State University

Bio: Justin Talley is currently head of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology (EPP) and recently took on the role of interim director for the Institute of Biosecurity and Microbial Forensics (IBMF) at Oklahoma State University. He received his Ph.D. in entomology from Kansas State University under the direction of Alberto Broce and Ludek Zurek. Previously, he served as the state extension specialist for veterinary entomology for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension System, and his appointment included extension, research, and teaching while a faculty member. Research programs focused on pest management of important external parasites in livestock systems, animal mortality management systems and their role in attracting flies, and pathogen association with important external parasites including ticks and flies.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Justin Talley has served in numerous roles within the ESA organization, including leadership positions within the SWB including secretary/treasurer, vice-president, president, and past president. This allowed him to gain insights into how the national ESA organization functions internally by attending leadership council meetings. He has consistently served the SWB since joining 14 years ago. His dedication led to many volunteer opportunities including serving on committees (Membership Committee, Student Awards Committee, and program co-chair). His involvement included serving on the Nominations Committee for the MUVE section and as chair. He also has served as a reviewer of veterinary entomology manuscripts submitted to ESA journals and enjoys serving as a student competition judge both for the Branch and Annual Meetings.

Candidate statement: I have a keen interest in serving my Society to ensure it is positioned well for all our members including those just beginning their careers or education in entomology. I believe there are some core areas a Governing Board representative should possess when representing the Branch, which include budget and resource management, shared governance, and relations with members, ESA personnel, and executive leaders. I have always seen ESA leadership as an opportunity for shared governance to inform decisions. One of the most important aspects of serving on the Governing Board should be developing relationships with Branch members, ESA personnel, and the executive leadership team to foster team building. I feel my experiences both within ESA and academia have prepared me well to serve as the next Governing Board representative for the SWB.