Rufus Akinrinlola Passes Qualifying Exam
Congratulations to Rufus Akinrinlola for passing his qualifying exam this fall semester. Akinrinlola is advised by Dr. Kelly and Dr. Hansen.
Entomology and Plant Pathology
Aaron Onufrak Passes Qualifying Exam
Congratulations to Aaron Onufrak for passing his qualifying exam. Onufrak is advised by Dr. Hadziabdic Guerry.
Social Commitee Hosts Coffee with Department Head
Our social committee hosted Coffee with the Department Head. Coffee with the Department Head is a time when our students, staff, and faculty get together in support of each other to discuss topics that relate to research, personal and professional development and so much more. We hope that everyone has learned something new today and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. Today’s event featured a few holiday sweaters!
Matt Huff’s Publication – High Quality Reference Genome for Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Recently, a research associate and doctoral student, Matthew Huff, published an article titled “A high quality reference genome for Fraxinus pennsylvanica for ash species restoration and research”. The Fraxinus pennsylvanica, green ash tree, is distributed across North America, and due to a small percentage of these native trees remaining healthy, they are known as the “lingering ash”. To read the full article and find out more about the research being conducted on Fraxinus pennsylvanica, visit here.
Entomology Students Attend the 2021 Annual Entomological Society of America Meeting
The Entomological Society of America held its annual meeting October 31 – November 3, 2021, in Denver, CO. Several of our entomology graduate students attended this professional meeting to present their current research, network, and more. While in attendance, a few of our students, Rebecca Butler, Corey Day, and Kassie Hollabaugh, received an award! We would like to congratulate all of the attending students for their outstanding work!
Professors Frank Hale and Alan Windham Visit Maury County Park
At the Country Classroom event held at Maury County Park in Columbia, TN, Professors Frank Hale and Dr. Alan Windham had the privilege of addressing an audience of over 500 enthusiastic 4th graders. The duo engaged the young minds with captivating discussions about insects and fungi, shedding light on their fascinating world. As the children explored the event, they were treated to captivating fungi photos and an impressive insect collection displayed on the tables. “The insect collection was quite a hit with the kid,” said Professor Alan Windham. Professors Hale and Windham’s interactive session was a success, leaving a trail of excitement among the
2021 Buggy Buffet Cancelled
Buggy Buffet is an annual event that involves students from UT’s First-Year Studies class “A Bug’s Life”. Over the years, this event presented a selection of menu items that feature insect-based ingredients. For example, during the annual event in 2019, some of the students truly enjoyed ants-on-a-log while others ate chocolate chirp cookies and drank a banana bug smoothie. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 virus, the 2021 Buggey Buffet event has been canceled. We are hoping to host another Buggy Buffet soon!
Laurie Barley Awarded the UTIA Extension Award of Excellence
We are thrilled to announce that Laurie Barley was awarded the prestigious UTIA Extension non-exempt “Award of Excellence”. The recognition is bestowed upon individuals who have surpassed expectations by going above and beyond their designated roles. Barley’s dedication and significant contributions to the educational and testing program of our state-wide Pesticide Safety and Education Program (PSEP) over the past 18 months have been remarkable. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Barley played a pivotal role in ensuring that testing and recertification processes continued. Her commitment and efforts have played a vital part in achieving the objectives of Extension: including leadership,
EPP DEI Committee Celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 11th is a day to honor and celebrate Indigenous people, often referred to as the first people or Native people of the world. According to the UN, there are more than 370 million Indigenous individuals residing in 70 countries worldwide, their rich diversity and unique traditions. These communities maintain social, cultural, economic, and political characteristics that set them apart from dominant societies. Recognizing the importance of acknowledging and appreciating Indigenous cultures, Entomology and Plant Pathology’s Diversity and Inclusion committee is proud to announce a month-long celebration of Indigenous People’s Day. For a comprehensive schedule of activities, please refer to our calendar.
2021 Tennessee Entomological Society Award Winners
The Tennessee Entomological Society (TES) is dedicated to spreading entomological knowledge throughout the state of Tennessee. Every year, TES holds an annual meeting that highlights student paper competitions. We would like to congratulate each participant for their excellent work while also highlighting the winners from our department. Congratulations and keep up the good work! If you would like to learn more about the Tennessee Entomological Society, please click here for more information. Undergraduate Award: 1st place, Rachel Baxter (works with Jennifer Chandler and Dr. Karen Vail) M.S. Award: 1st place, Kassie Hollabaugh; 2nd place, Allyson Dekovich