Stelzig's tenure of 20-plus years with ESA—seven as executive director—to end January 4, 2027
Annapolis, MD; October 9, 2026—Chris Stelzig, CAE, executive director of the Entomological Society of America, has notified the ESA Governing Board that he will resign after January 4, 2027.
Stelzig has served as ESA executive director since December 2019 after working in various roles for the Society since 2000. He has accepted a new role with a nonprofit professional society that is yet to be announced.
"ESA has benefitted greatly from Chris Stelzig's expert leadership and dedication to the Society for all these years," says ESA President Melissa W. Siebert, Ph.D., BCE. "I know I speak for both the Governing Board and countless members and volunteers at ESA when I say that we are sincerely thankful for his work, and we wish him luck in his next role."
The ESA Governing Board met October 7 to begin the executive transition process. Siebert has appointed Rosina Romano, CMP, DES, ESA chief operating officer, to serve as interim executive director while a search is conducted for a new leader to fill the role. The executive director is the Society's chief staff officer, leading day-to-day operations of the organization and its headquarters staff. Per ESA Bylaws, the role is appointed by the Governing Board and serves as a non-voting Secretary of the Board. Siebert will appoint a task force to oversee the search process and recommend a candidate to the Board.
Under Stelzig's stewardship as executive director, ESA has successfully navigated numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and public policy disruptions to the U.S. scientific enterprise. Society membership levels have remained steady, while ESA has grown its publications program and extended its successful partnership with Oxford University Press. Early in his tenure, ESA secured a cooperative agreement with a key federal agency to fund a new workforce development program for public health entomology, which has continued over ensuing years and has been approved for funding again in 2027. Stelzig has also overseen key improvements to ESA's technological systems and financial processes. Prior to serving as executive director, Stelzig served in staff roles overseeing membership, marketing, certification, science policy, and strategic initiatives between 2000 and 2019. He led the launch of both the ESA Science Policy program and the ESA Certification Corporation's Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) program.
"It has been a true professional honor to help lead the work of this important society for the past two and a half decades," Stelzig says. "I've had the privilege to learn with and from some incredibly talented staff and volunteer colleagues who believe—as do I—in the importance of entomological science. I'm grateful to ESA and its leaders for trusting me for so long to share in its success."
"While we are sad to see Chris depart, he has set the Society up for success. Our headquarters staff is well-equipped to continue operating at its usual high level during this transition period," Siebert says. "The Society also benefits from a strong Governing Board and volunteer community, and this search for a new executive director will serve an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to serving as the world's leading organization for professional entomologists and insect science."
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CONTACT: Joe Rominiecki, jrominiecki@entsoc.org, 301-731-4535 x3009
ABOUT: ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has nearly 7,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the Society stands ready as a non-partisan scientific and educational resource for all insect-related topics. For more information, visit www.entsoc.org.