International Association of Black Entomologists (IABE) Voices: Reputability, Research, and Resilience

Dr. Tolu Morawo is an entomologist with the Department of Defense in a dual capacity – serving as a Major and commander of a Preventive Medicine Detachment in the US Army Reserve, and as a civilian entomologist/Pest Management Consultant with the US Navy. He earned his Ph.D. in entomology from Auburn University in 2017, studying plant-herbivore-parasitoid interactions. While at Auburn, he received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Friends of Southern IPM Award, and was later selected as the Graduate School’s Graduation Marshal. Before joining the US Navy as a civilian entomologist, he briefly served as an Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Florida, focusing on the biological control of invasive insects. From his graduate education to his service in the military, Dr. Morawo’s expertise spans insect chemical ecology, medical entomology, and integrated pest management, resulting in his contribution to over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Dr. Morawo was named the Civilian Employee of the Quarter across the enterprise of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command for his DoD-funded research on tick surveillance on the Pacific Coast and Alaska, and for his kissing bug surveillance work along the U.S. southern border. In 2024, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal partly for his regional work on the New World Screwworm during his deployment to Honduras. In 2025, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for his work as a Medical Liaison Officer for US Forces during a multinational training exercise in Australia. He currently serves as a voting member of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Committee. Dr. Morawo has been a member of the International Association of Black Entomologists, and the Entomological Society of America (ESA) since 2012. At ESA, he served as the Chair of the Entomology Games Committee, Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and on two Task Forces. His passion remains centered on observing insect behavior, teaching, and mentoring students.

*Disclaimer, Dr. Morawo will be speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the Department of Defence or the United States Government.

Dr. Beatrice N. Dingha is a professor at North Carolina A&T State University. Born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa, Dr. Dingha developed an early interest in insects and their wide-ranging impact on agricultural ecosystems and human well-being. She earned her BSc from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria, followed by an MPhil. from the University of Ghana. During her graduate studies, she also conducted research at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria. She moved to the United States to pursue her doctoral degree and earned a PhD in entomology from Auburn University. She served as a postdoctoral research fellow at Tuskegee University before joining North Carolina A&T State University.

Hardworking, results-driven, and dedicated to her profession, Dr. Dingha has excelled as an impactful entomologist, researcher, author, and educator, lending her expertise to students at North Carolina A&T State University and beyond. She has trained and mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Dingha has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers and has presented her research findings at numerous conferences, seminars, and professional forums, covering cockroaches, invasive pests, pollinator ecology, and other areas. Her current research on cowpea intercropping and pollinator enhancement was highlighted by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) in 2021, and her work on industrial hemp received recognition from Business North Carolina in 2022. As a principal investigator and co-principal investigator, she has secured over $6 million in competitive research funding. In recognition of her scholarly contributions, Dr. Dingha has received numerous awards, including Competitive Grant Awards and Publication Awards from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, as well as recognition for high scholarship and outstanding research achievement from Gamma Sigma Delta. She has served as a member of the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute and maintains professional affiliations with the Entomological Society of America, the Florida Entomological Society, South Carolina Entomological Society, and the International Association of Black Entomologists. Her current research focuses on pollinator ecology with a continued emphasis on advancing knowledge of pests and pollinators to support food security and sustainable agricultural systems. Her research has stimulated interest and created a platform for community education and training students to love, protect, and be inspired by the importance of preserving pollinators and protecting nature.