Annapolis, MD; May 7, 2020—Jessica Ware, Ph.D., assistant curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History, has been elected by members of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) as the organization's Vice President-Elect.
She will begin her term as Vice President-Elect immediately and will then serve as ESA Vice President beginning in November 2020, President beginning in November 2021, and Past President beginning in November 2022.
Dr. Ware is currently a member of ESA’s Governing Board, representing the Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity (SysEB) Section. As Dr. Ware will vacate her previous board position to serve as Vice President-Elect, the SysEB Section will appoint a replacement to serve as its representative for the remainder of Dr. Ware’s original term.
Dr. Ware’s research centers on the evolution of behavioral and physiological adaptations in insects, with an emphasis on Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and Dictyoptera (mainly termites and cockroaches). She uses phylogenomics and morphology tools to inform work on reproductive, social, and flight behaviors in insects. Her research has been recognized through awards; she was awarded a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from the U.S. government. Dr. Ware earned a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia in Canada and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University–New Brunswick. She was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at the American Museum of Natural History (2008-2010) and an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Biology at Rutgers University–Newark (2010-2019). Dr. Ware is committed to enhancing diversity, inclusion, and equity in science and is passionate about science communication. Her commitment to ESA has led her to serve in multiple ways since becoming a member in 2004. She served as the president of the SysEB Section (2014) and has served on several ad hoc committees, including task forces (on membership, awards and fellowships, and publications) and committees (Diversity & Inclusion, Thomas Say). She serves on the Insect Systematics and Diversity editorial board, as well as the boards of several non-ESA journals. She is current president of the Worldwide Dragonfly Association, after serving as secretary for four years.
Nominations are now open for ESA’s summer Society elections, including leadership roles at the Branch, Section, and national level. Nominations are due by June 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time US. To learn more or submit a nomination, visit ESA’s Elections and Nominations page.
CONTACT: Joe Rominiecki, jrominiecki@entsoc.org, 301-731-4535 x3009
ABOUT: ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 7,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the Society stands ready as a non-partisan scientific and educational resource for all insect-related topics. For more information, visit www.entsoc.org.