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Dr. Michael Parrella earned degrees from Rutgers University and Virginia Tech. After his PhD he took a position in the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside. In 1988 he relocated to the Davis campus, where he holds a teaching/research appointment in the Departments of Entomology and Nematology, and Plant Sciences. He was Chair of the Department of Entomology (1991-1999), Associate Dean of Agricultural Sciences (1999-2009), and is presently Chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology. Dr. Parrella also served as the Western Regional Administrator for the USDA IR-4 program and on the Board of Trustees of the Sacramento/Yolo County Mosquito Abatement District. Dr. Parrella's research focuses on developing IPM programs for greenhouse crops. He has received numerous awards including the ESA Recognition Award (1987), the ESA Distinguished Achievement Award in Horticultural Entomology (2011), Fellow of ESA (2008), the Futura Award for teaching and research from the Professional Plant Growers Association (1991), the Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education from the Society of American Florists (1997), and election to the California Floriculture Hall of Fame by the Kee Kitayama Research Foundation (2011). Dr. Parrella served as the ESA Pacific Branch President (1998) and six years as a member of the ESA Governing Board representing the Pacific Branch (2008-2013). He has served as president of the Council of Entomology Department Administrators and participated on USDA-CSREES Review panels for Departments of Entomology at the Univ. Mass., Univ. Delaware, N.C. State, Ohio State, Purdue Univ., and Texas A&M. He is currently a member of the Pacific and International Branches.
