My educational and professional background has largely focused on plant/ landscape ecology, plant-insect interactions, natural resource conservation, sustainable agriculture, public health entomology, and biostatistics. I have taught undergraduate courses related to these subjects and mentored student research for over ten years. My past research has concerned pest management, pollination, and propagation of specialty crops, including cucurbits and hops, as well as environmental analysis, natural history of plants, and community engagement with green infrastructure. I am very interested in the intersection of sustainable agriculture and natural resources conservation as a focus for future research and extension activities.
- I grew up in rural Pike County, Ohio and graduated from Piketon High School
- I completed the following credentials:
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
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- Ph.D. Entomology, 2012
Dissertation: “Integrating sustainable pest management and pollinator conservation efforts in cucurbit production systems”
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- Graduate Certificate College Teaching and Learning, 2012
- Graduate Certificate Applied Statistics, 2011
- M.S. Entomology, 2010
Thesis: “Mesoscale spatial and temporal distribution of Lutzomyia spp. (Diptera: Psychodidae) in deciduous habitats of the eastern United States”
Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH
- B.S. Biology, 2007
- B.S. Natural Sciences, Chemistry Concentration, 2007
- My most recent affiliation has been as Associate Professor of Botany at Shawnee State University. I have previously served as Director of Upward Bound programs at the same institution and have also taught at Marietta College, Unity College, Ashland Community and Technical College, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College. I began my professional career as an Ohio State Park Naturalist and student Research Assistant at the OSU South Center at Piketon.
- I serve on several volunteer boards which focus on the promotion of natural history, sustainable agriculture, and recreational tourism opportunities. I enjoy many outdoor adventure activities, growing produce for market, playing 12 string guitar, and dabbling in nature photography.
- In recognition of my community service activities, I was awarded the Shannon Lawson Service award at SSU in 2020 and a Jenco award through the Foundation of Appalachian Ohio in 2022.
- I am choosing to join the CFAES faculty as the mission areas to sustain life align with my interests and pursuits related to community service and understanding the natural world.