The Entomological Society of America congratulates the 2024 class of interns and fellows selected for the Public Health Entomology for All program.
In partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ESA created the Public Health Entomology For All (PHEFA) program to encourage students and recent graduates interested in social justice and health equity to pursue entomology as a career and work toward a future in which all communities benefit from creative, inclusive, and equitable scientific processes and solutions.
The PHEFA interns and fellows are students or graduates of Minority Serving Institutions who have demonstrated a commitment to scientific inquiry and equity. Interns began their 10-week positions in June, while fellows serve for one or two years, beginning at various times this summer. The following individuals were selected as 2024 PHEFA interns and fellows.
Two-Year CDC Fellows |
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| Jacoby Clark received an M.S. in Biology with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology/microbiology from San Francisco State University in 2022 and a B.S. in biological sciences from North Carolina State University in 2020. Jacoby is completing a two-year PHEFA fellowship and is currently mentored by Erik Foster and Andrias Hojgard of the Bacterial Disease Branch in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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| Cassandra Durden obtained an M.S. in Veterinary Public Health Epidemiology at Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in public health and neuroscience in 2021. Cassandra completing a two-year PHEFA fellowship and is currently mentored by Anna Drexler, Ph.D., and John-Paul Mutebi, Ph.D., of the Arboviral Disease Branch in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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| Sri Jyosthsna Kancharlapalli is currently pursuing a doctorate in Biological Sciences—Medical Entomology at Texas Tech University. Sri began a two-year fellowship with the CDC in August of 2023. Sri is currently mentored by William Nicholson, Ph.D., of the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch in Atlanta, Georgia.
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One-Year CDC Fellows |
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| Abigail Nana Afia Yeboah received an M.S. in Urban Forestry and National Resources from Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in 2022 and a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Ghana in 2019. Abigail is currently mentored by Ellen Dotson, Ph.D., and John Gimnig, Ph.D., in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Anwar Green graduated from Tuskegee University with a B.S. in Animal Science in 2022. Anwar is currently mentored by William Nicholson, Ph.D., and Bryan Ayers, Ph.D., of the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Jamesia Henderson obtained an M.S. in Agricultural Science with a concentration in entomology from Florida A&M University and a B.S. in Health Science with a concentration in pre-physical therapy in 2021. Jamesia is currently mentored by Ellen Dotson, Ph.D., and John Gimnig, Ph.D., in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Jerry Champion obtained a B.S. in Mathematics with minors in Biology and Health Professions from Texas Tech University in 2021. Jerry is currently mentored by Luisa Otero-Lopez, Ph.D., and Gilberto Felix, Ph.D., in the Dengue Branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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| Kiara Ivy attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and received an M.S. in Entomology in 2024 and a B.S. in Biology – Pre-Medical Sciences in Spring of 2022. Kiara is currently mentored by Gilberto Felix, Ph.D., in the Dengue Branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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| Kristen Joy Adkins graduated from Florida A&M University in 2023 with an M.S. in Agricultural Sciences and received a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences: Entomology with a minor in global agriculture. Joy is mentored by Ryan Hemme, Ph.D., of the Dengue Branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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| Matylda Lally obtained a B.S. in Natural Science with an emphasis on Fisheries and Wildlife Ecology from Northland College in Spring 2024. Matylda is mentored by Roxanne Connelly, Ph.D., and Joanie Kenney, Ph.D., of the Arboviral Disease Branch in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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| Sabaa Logman received a B.S. in Biology with a minor in public health from SUNY University at Albany in 2024. Sabaa is currently mentored by Ellen Dotson, Ph.D., and Lisa Reimer, Ph.D., in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Reinaldo Rivera graduated from Ponce Health Sciences University with Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in 2022 and received a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in biomedical sciences from the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. Reinaldo is currently mentored by Jose Ruiz Valcarcel, GIS Specialist, of the Dengue Branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico. |  |
CDC Interns |
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| Amechelle Leander graduated from The College of New Jersey with a B.A. in Biology and a B.S. in Public Health with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences in Spring 2024. In Summer 2024, Amechelle worked as an intern with mentors Ryan Hemme, Ph.D., and Gilberto Felix, Ph.D., in the Dengue Branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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| Chantal Arbelo Mejias is currently pursuing a B.S. in Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. In Summer 2024, Chantal worked as an intern with mentors Ryan Hemme, Ph.D., and Gilberto Felix, Ph.D., in the Dengue Branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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| Joselyn Estrada is currently pursuing a B.S. in Microbiology with a minor in chemistry at California State University – Long Beach and will graduate in Spring 2025. In Summer 2024, Joselyn worked as an intern with mentors William Nicholson, Ph.D., and Bryan Ayers, Ph.D., of the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Kailynn Wells graduated from Texas A&M University – San Antonio with a B.S. in Zoology/Animal Biology in Spring 2024 and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University. In Summer 2024, Kailynn worked as an intern with mentors Christina Rafferty, Ph.D., and Lisa Reimer, Ph.D., in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria in Atlanta, Georgia. |  |
| Keiana Briscoe is currently pursuing a B.S. in Biology at Central State University and will graduate in Spring 2025. In Summer 2024, Keiana worked as an intern with mentors Roxanne Connelly, Ph.D., and Nicole Foley, Ph.D., of the Arboviral Disease Branch in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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| Samantha Rodriguez is currently pursuing a B.A. in Public Health with minors in health care ethics and biological sciences at Wayne State University. In Summer 2024, Samantha worked as an intern with mentors William Nicholson, Ph.D., and Bryan Ayers, Ph.D., of the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Subhika Rao is currently pursuing a B.S. in Biology, Society, and Environment with minors in public health and music at the University of Minnesota and will graduate in Spring 2025. In Summer 2024, Subhika worked as an intern with mentors Christina Rafferty, Ph.D., and Lisa Reimer, Ph.D., in the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Yaliah Figueroa-Rosado is currently pursuing a B.S. in Natural Sciences in Integrative Biology with a minor in medical humanities at the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras and will graduate in Fall 2025. In Summer 2024, Yaliah worked as an intern with mentors Roxanne Connelly, Ph.D., and Nicole Foley, Ph.D., of the Arboviral Disease Branch in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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