Congratulations to the members of the Entomological Society of America recently elected to volunteer positions beginning in November 2024. The electronic ballot period for members began July 15 and was completed August 14. Below, the candidates elected to positions within the Society and several ESA Sections and Branches are listed.
All elected candidates begin their roles upon the completion of the ESA Annual Meeting, Entomology 2024, November 10-13, in Phoenix, Arizona.
ESA members also elected three new Honorary Members during the election period.
Below, see the elected candidates for:
- ESA Society Elections
- Student Representative to the ESA Governing Board
- Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology (MUVE) Section Elections
- Physiology, Biochemistry, & Toxicology (PBT) Section Elections
- Plant-Insect Ecosystems (P-IE) Section Elections
- Systematics, Evolution, & Biodiversity (SysEB) Section Elections
- Eastern Branch Elections
- International Branch Elections
- Southwestern Branch Elections
ESA Society Elections
ESA Vice President-Elect
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 it 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.
Student Elections
Student Representative to the ESA Governing Board
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.
Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology (MUVE) Section Elections
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.
Physiology, Biochemistry, & Toxicology (PBT) Section Elections
PBT Section Vice President-Elect
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.
PBT Section Representative to the ESA Publications Council
Umut Toprak
Professor, Ankara University
Bio: Umut Toprak is a p;rofessor 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.
Plant-Insect Ecosystems (P-IE) Section Elections
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
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.
Student Representative to the P-IE Section Governing Council
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 Governing Council
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.
Systematics, Evolution, & Biodiversity (SysEB) Section Elections
SysEB Section Vice President-Elect
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 theGrasshoppers 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.
Eastern Branch Elections
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 Elections
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+ Transational 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 Elections
Southwestern Branch Representative to the ESA Governing Board
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.