2025 Southeastern Branch Elections

• Kaushalya Amarasekare, Tennessee State University
• Julien Beuzelin, University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center
• Brett Blaauw, University of Georgia
• Kelly Carruthers, University of Georgia

Kaushalya Amarasekare
Tennessee State University

Bio: Dr. Kaushalya Amarasekare is an associate professor of entomology at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. in entomology from the University of Florida and Oklahoma State University, respectively, and completed postdoctoral training at Oregon State University. She has been at TSU since 2015, teaches entomology, mentors graduate and undergraduate students, and conducts research and statewide extension. Her program focuses on IPM and the effects of pesticides on natural enemies. It promotes IPM and popularizes entomology among minority students. Dr. Amarasekare has 25 peer-reviewed publications and has made 97 research presentations at professional meetings and 77 Extension and Outreach presentations. She was honored as the TSU's College of Agriculture Outstanding Young Researcher in 2019 and Outstanding Extension Faculty in 2024.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Amarasekare has been a member of ESA since 2001 and has served the Society as a peer reviewer, judge, and moderator of student competitions. She has published her research in ESA journals, participated in numerous symposia at the regional and national levels, and presented her research at the Southwestern, Pacific, Southeastern, and Annual Meetings. Dr. Amarasekare has been a member-at-large of SEB since 2022. She is a member of the awards and nomination committees of the Tennessee Entomological Society. She has served it as its past president, president, president-elect, program chair, and awards and local arrangement committee chair. She serves as a judge and moderator of student competitions, presents her research, participates in the annual meetings of the Tennessee Academy of Science and TSU research symposium and teaches entomology to Tennessee Naturalist trainees.

Candidate statement: I have been an ESA member for the past 23 years. I am honored to be nominated for the ESA Southeastern Branch president-elect position. If elected, I will strive to make the Branch more inclusive for minority students and minority-serving institutions. I will seek ways to increase local minority student membership and participation in the ESA meetings at national and regional levels in the Southeastern Branch. I am dedicated to promoting entomology to minority undergraduate and graduate students through teaching, training, and mentoring them in research and extension activities. As an entomology faculty member serving at a Historically Black College and University, I am committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in entomology. If elected, I will do my utmost to work with other members to realize the goals of our Branch.

Julien Beuzelin
University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center

Bio: Dr. Julien Beuzelin grew up on a farm in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, and then moved to France where he received an M.S. in crop protection from the École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes. He obtained a Ph.D. in entomology from Louisiana State University where he subsequently served as an assistant professor until 2016. Currently, he is an associate professor at the University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center. Julien's research and extension programs have focused on the management and ecology of arthropods in sugarcane, rice, sweet corn, and leafy vegetables. Sustainable insecticide use and management of emerging and invasive pests are key components of his programs. He has mentored 10 graduate students, and he has published 55+ peer-reviewed articles and 80+ non-refereed publications, including 38 Arthropod Management Tests reports.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Julien has participated in all ESA Annual Meetings and nearly all Southeastern Branch Meetings since 2006, frequently serving as a moderator and a judge for student competitions. He served as the SEB representative on the panel for Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension (2015-2017) and on the Program Committee for the SEB Meeting (2017). He is an active member of the Entomology Section of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT), which he has chaired since 2019. He organized two international entomology workshops (2018, 2024) and a webinar (2022) for ISSCT. In addition, he handled entomology submissions for publication in the peer-reviewed proceedings of the latest ISSCT Congress (2023). He has served has a reviewer for many ESA journals, and he now serves as subject editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology.

Candidate statement: I would like to play a more active role in supporting our Southeastern Branch by representing and advocating for all SEB members who contribute to scientific education, a more sustainable agriculture, improved public health, and minimized anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems. I will continue to support initiatives increasing participation in the Branch Meeting, including professional development and networking opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as early career entomologists. In addition, I will support the development of hands-on trainings to increase member engagement and fun at meetings. I would also like to encourage programs highlighting collaborations among entomologists, scientists in other disciplines, regulators, and stakeholders without entomology backgrounds to promote multidisciplinary and pragmatic solutions.

Brett Blaauw
University of Georgia

Bio: Originally from southwest Michigan, Dr. Brett Blaauw earned his M.S. in chemical ecology from Western Michigan University and then his Ph.D. at Michigan State University with a dual degree in entomology and ecology, evolution, and behavior. With over 15 years of research experience in fruit systems, Dr. Blaauw is currently an associate professor and extension specialist of fruit entomology with dual appointments at UGA and Clemson. As the regional peach entomologist for Georgia and South Carolina, he works closely with the grower stakeholders and industry leaders in developing and implementing IPM and sustainable agriculture programs for culturally and economically important crops. The results from his research provide the groundwork for developing pest management recommendations, which are published in one of the eight management guides where Dr. Blaauw is a contributor or editor.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Blaauw has been an active member of ESA for 16 years, with over eight of those in the Southeastern Branch (SEB). He has been to 15 Annual Meetings since joining ESA and every SEB Meeting since moving to the southeast. As a student, he participated in the student competitions and the Entomology Games. Now, he instills the importance of ESA in his students, encouraging them all to be active members in the society. Dr. Blaauw was the chair of the site selection and the local arrangements committees for the 2020 Joint Eastern Branch and SEB Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Although COVID-19 had other plans for the meeting, he continued to serve the Society and is currently serving his second term as the secretary-treasurer for SEB. Dr. Blaauw is a hardworking entomologist who continues to show notable support and dedication to these societies.

Candidate statement: As the current secretary-treasurer for SEB, it has been a privilege to work closely with SEB officers and committee members to help our Society endure and overcome many of the issues from COVID-19 that impacted our Branch. Thanks to our great membership and strong leadership, we have quickly rebounded, and our Branch is as strong as ever. As such, I hope to build off the successes of our recent SEB presidents and key officers to help our great Branch continue to grow and modernize. Since our students and early career professionals are the backbone and future of our Society, I will continue to support initiatives aimed at increasing the involvement and training of young entomologists, particularly those from underrepresented groups and schools. I believe that a core tenet of our society is volunteerism, and, as such, it would be an honor for me to continue to serve the SEB in this new role.  

Kelly Carruthers
University of Georgia

Bio: Kelly is currently the undergraduate coordinator for the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 2022 after teaching high school in Texas for seven years. During her Ph.D. studies, she earned multiple speaking awards, including the Robert O'Neil Award from the International Organization of Biological Control for outstanding Ph.D. Her research focused on plant-insect interactions and the use of insects for the biocontrol of weeds. She is a dedicated advocate for education in entomology, which is evident from her role as the editor of the Signals section of American Entomologist. Additionally, Kelly oversees the UGA Insect Zoo and provides outreach services to the local community. She is also the department chair of the Ag Science program of the Georgia Governor's Honors Program.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Kelly attended her first ESA event in 2013 when she was a teacher in Texas. Dr. Rob Weidenmann helped her become a student volunteer to earn her meeting registration. During her Ph.D., she participated in both Branch and Annual Meetings. Kelly competed in various student competitions, including the Entomology Games for University of Florida (UF) and the debate team for Texas A&M and UF during COVID-19. Because of how rewarding these events were, she has taken an active role in coaching as a faculty member at UGA. She coached the UGA Debate Team in 2023 and plans to coach future ESA student debates. She also started her role as Gamesmaster for SEB in 2022 and works closely with the Entomology Games Committee to make sure that games are fair and equitable for SEB students. In 2026, Kelly will take over the role as ESA Gamesmaster, but it will not interfere with SEB presidential duties.

Candidate statement: I would love the opportunity to serve as the ESA SEB president in order to put my current skills to good use and learn more. As an active member of ESA and my role as Gamesmaster for SEB, I have spent time working behind the scenes to support important opportunities for students. Serving as president for SEB would give me the opportunity to continue to serve the entomological community at large. The majority of my job at UGA is administrative, and I work collaboratively with a wide variety of people and industries to provide resources for my students. I bring the same enthusiasm for progress to this role. It would take a great deal of listening to members of the Branch to learn what is working and what is not to better serve the Branch. I would also work closely with past presidents to make sure the job is done well and meets the needs of the Branch that I am proud to be a member of.

• Gagandeep Brar, Bayer Crop Science
• Justin George, USDA-ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit
• Michael Goldman, ERM
• Amy McCaskill, Syngenta
• Octavio Menocal, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry

Gagandeep Brar
Bayer Crop Science

Bio: Gagandeep Brar is a scientist II – entomology at Bayer. He holds a Ph.D. from North Dakota State University and is formally trained in applied field science, insect molecular biology, and transcriptomics research of various lepidopteran and hemipteran pests. During his field season, he executes and evaluates insect trait efficacy trials for key pests in cotton, corn, and soy. Additionally, he provides genomics and transcriptomics insights for corn earworm colonies in the insectary. With comprehensive knowledge and training in crop protection, he aims to advance pest control strategies that support our agro-ecosystem.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Gagandeep has been a dedicated ESA member since 2020, contributing through leadership and volunteer efforts. As a representative for the PBT Section and a member of the ESA Books Editorial Board, he has organized numerous workshops and symposia since 2022. He played a pivotal role in the ESA Science Policy Committee, writing and revising comments for the White House National Nature Assessment and the ESA Position Statement on Climate Change. Dr. Brar has authored an article for American Entomologist, reviewed manuscripts for ESA journals, and provided feedback on prestigious ESA awards. Additionally, he volunteered at the ESA registration booth, Women and Allies in Entomology Breakfast, and Entomology Games, helping to build a strong ESA for the future.

Candidate statement: As a dedicated ESA member since 2020, I am excited to serve as member-at-large to enhance our Branch's connectivity and engagement. My experience in organizing workshops and moderating symposia and working with different groups like the Insect Decline Task Force, Science Policy Fellows, etc., reflects my commitment to fostering collaboration among members. I envision creating platforms for sharing ideas and resources, ensuring all voices are heard, and addressing the diverse interests of our community. I aim to strengthen our network, promote interdisciplinary dialogue, and support initiatives that advance our collective goals in entomological research and practice.

Justin George
USDA-ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit

Bio: Dr. Justin George received his bachelor of agricultural sciences degree from Kerala Agricultural University in India, followed by an M.S in entomology from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. in entomology from Pennsylvania State University. His postdoctoral research at the USDA-ARS and University of Florida focused on the biology, chemical ecology, population dynamics, and host-vector-pathogen interactions of Asian citrus psyllids. Currently, as a research entomologist at Southern Insect Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, in Stoneville, Mississippi, he focuses on developing agronomic practices and management strategies using a combination of sex pheromones, semiochemicals, and trap crops against pests of cotton, soybean, and sweet potatoes. He has authored over 55 research and extension publications and, most recently, was selected Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, London.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Dr. Justin George has extensive experience in serving professional societies in many leadership roles at the regional and national level. Dr. George was a member (2017-2020) and chair (2020-2021) of the ESA Southeastern Branch student awards committee, member of SEB program committee (2017-2018) and a member of SEB nominations committee (2021-2022). He was selected as the government representative to the P-IE Section awards committee (2022-2024) and served as the chair of P-IE Section awards committee in 2024. Also, he served as a member and chair of professional awards committee of SEB (2024-2025). Currently, he is serving as a member of the awards and honors committee of ESA and will chair this committee from 2025-2026. He is an ESA member since 2005, and has volunteered as judge, moderator, and symposium organizer for many Branch and Annual Meetings of ESA.

Candidate statement: I had the opportunity to serve ESA at Branch and national level as a member or chair of several committees and to initiate positive discussions or changes to the student awards and professional awards. One effort I am proud of was being able to modify the judging rubric and make the application process easier for the applicants and reviewers. As a member of the SEB leadership team, I will work toward increasing the participation of early career scientists and young professionals in Society activities. I look forward to working with a diverse and inclusive group of professionals that will help all of us to grow together. I believe that my previous experiences working in SEB and ESA committees, and my ability and enthusiasm to work in a team, will make me a very good candidate for this member-at-large position.

Michael Goldman
ERM

Bio: Michael has over 30 years of experience in environmental health and safety, and he has experienced and mitigated a wide range of natural and business induced hazards and regulatory violations across the United States and Canada. His expertise ranges from manufacturing and construction operations, solid and hazardous waste transport and management, remediation of Superfund sites, auditing, and gap analysis, plus setting up OSHA-, EPA-, and DOT=compliant management systems and training programs. Michael is also certified as a Board Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America and has a master's degree in both public health and entomology.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Member, ESA Common Names Committee.

Candidate statement: I would love to serve the ESA and the Southeastern Branch in this capacity.

Amy McCaskill
Syngenta

Bio: Amy McCaskill was born in Burlington, North Carolina, and resides in Durham. She earned a B.S. in biology from Appalachian State University and an M.S. in entomology and plant pathology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. With experience both in agricultural biotechnology and crop protection, she has worked as a plant scientist and regulatory manager at Paradigm Genetics, BASF, Bayer, and Syngenta. Currently at Syngenta, she leads the regulatory insecticide team, providing regulatory strategy guidance with expertise in pollinator and endangered species assessments. Amy has a deep understanding of the agricultural industry and its evolving regulatory landscape, and she maintains extensive networks with government regulators and industry stakeholders.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Throughout Amy's educational and professional career, she has been a member of ESA for four (non-concurrent) years. Although quite some time ago, she presented posters of graduate work at the regional (SEB) and national level. In addition, Amy is currently on the steering committee for the North Carolina AgTech Regulatory Forum and organizing and facilitating a session on the regulatory aspects of resistance management. She is organizing a session for the American Chemical Society called "Navigating the Maze: Pesticide Registration Challenges in Modern U.S. Agriculture." She has formed various multi-stakeholder working groups to develop solutions for various regulatory issues. On a more personal level, Amy has also volunteered in her community regarding housing and food insecurity, as a political activist, and as a member of her HOA Board.

Candidate statement: I aim to be known for my passion, care, and strategic thinking, as these characters drive my commitment to deliver high-quality, effective, and reliable results. This ethos guides my professional and personal endeavors and aligns with the Society's values. I approach my work with detail-oriented thoroughness and a creative, enthusiastic mindset. With nearly 28 years in agricultural research and development, I have a reputation for getting things done. I'm forthright, generous, and fearless—qualities essential for teamwork and advocacy. I seek to foster an inclusive and engaged SEB community, merging my chemical industry experience with academic and stakeholder collaboration. I'm dedicated to creating mentorship and collaboration opportunities, ensuring every voice is heard and valued.

Octavio Menocal
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry

Bio: Octavio holds a B.Sc. (2011) in agronomy from the Pan-American School of Agriculture (Zamorano). He received his M.S. (2017) and Ph.D. (2022) in entomology from the University of Florida under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Carrillo. His research focused on ambrosia beetles, vectors of laurel wilt pathogen in avocado systems. Two of his most significant contributions were documenting the flight height and daily flight periodicity of ambrosia beetles and how canopy management influences the abundance of ambrosia beetles in avocado orchards impacted by laurel wilt. Currently, Octavio is a biological administrator II at FDACS-DPI. He oversees two statewide major mass-rearing biological control programs: the production of Lilioceris egena (Chrysomelidae) and Tamarixia radiata (Eulophidae), biocontrol agents of air potato and Asian citrus psyllid, respectively.

Past ESA activity or other volunteer service: Octavio is an active member of ESA and SEB. He has served as judge for several student competitions, including the preliminary rounds of the Entomology Games in 2023. Additionally, Octavio has routinely volunteered at ESA Annual Meetings, assisting attendees with registration, questions, and presentation uploads. Currently, Octavio serves as the Southeastern Branch representative on the Entomology Games Committee. During his time as a graduate student, Octavio was a member of the Seminar and Social Committees at the UF-Tropical Research and Education Center and the Public Relations Committee for the Florida Entomological Society. As a President's Prize Winner in 2018, Octavio became a member of the Entomological Society of Canada in 2019.

Candidate statement: I am a strong advocate of students and early career professionals, especially those from underrepresented groups. Choosing a career path after graduation can be intimidating, difficult, and isolating for any student, particularly for international ones. Building a robust support network within our entomological community is critical to foster the success of early career scientists. I aim to organize symposia on different career paths after graduate school, including the work permit processes, a topic that is challenging for international students. Also, I would like to organize symposia addressing the challenges of agriculture in the 21st century, which is marked by the unprecedented invasion and establishment of alien pests. My experience in academia and within a state agency, along with my strong teamwork skills makes me a highly qualified candidate for this role.