Project Team

Project Directors

Christopher Ranger, project director, guides our interdisciplinary team of researchers.

Christopher Ranger, Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS – Wooster, Ohio

Additionally, there are five co-directors to help manage the project.

Sara Villani, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University
Tom Kon, Assistant Professor of Plant Physiology, North Carolina State University
Jim Walgenbach, Professor of Entomology, North Carolina State University
Glen Rains, Professor of Entomology, University of Georgia
Ben Campbell, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia

Objective Leaders

Objective 1: Biology & Ecology – Sara Villani, North Carolina State University
Objective 2: Monitoring Tools – Shimat Joseph, University of Georgia
Objective 3: Management Strategies – Ted Cottrell, USDA ARS
Objective 4: Economics – Ben Campbell, University of Georgia
Objective 5: Outreach – Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia

Co-Project Investigators

Angelita Acebes-Dorian, Research Biologist, USDA-ARS – Hilo, Hawaii
Brett Blaauw, Assistant Professor of Entomology, University of Georgia
Shimat Joseph, Associate Professor of Entomology, University of Georgia
Will Hudson, Professor of Entomology, University of Georgia
Joseph LaForest, Public Service Associate, University of Georgia
Julie Campbell, Assistant Research Scientist of Economics, University of Georgia
Apurba Barman, Assistant Professor of Entomology, University of Georgia
Kerik Cox, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, Cornell University
Monique J. Rivera, Assistant Professor of Entomology, Cornell University
Greg Krawcyzk, Research Professor of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University
Kari Anne Peter, Research Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, Pennsylvania State University
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia, Assistant Professor of Entomology, Virginia Tech
Karla Addesso, Professor of Entomology, Tennessee State University
Jason Oliver, Professor of Entomology, Tennessee State University
Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Associate Professor of Entomology, Tennessee State University
Juang Chong, Professor of Entomology, Clemson University
Alicia Rihn, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Tennessee
Adam Rabinowitz, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Auburn University
Romina Gazis-Seregina, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida
David Shapiro-Ilan, Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS – Byron, Georgia
Ted Cottrell, Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS – Byron, Georgia
Lindsey Milbrath, Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS – Ithaca, New York
Mike Reding, Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS – Wooster, Ohio

Additional Collaborators

Sean Gresham, Ph.D. student, North Carolina State University
Sandra Lizarraga, Ph.D. student, Cornell University
Anju Poudel, M.S. student, Tennessee State University
Krishna Neupane, M.S. student, Tennessee State University
Madhav Parajuli, Ph.D. student, Tennessee State University
Denis Olgen, Ph.D. student, University of Georgia
Swayang Nayak, Ph.D. student, University of Georgia
Prasanna Dhami, Virginia Tech
Melissa Munoz, North Carolina State University (starting soon!)
Jensen Hayter, Postdoctoral Researcher, North Carolina State University
Cansu Oksel, Postdoctoral Researcher, Tennessee State University
Rajendra Acharya, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Georgia
Ramkumar Govindaraju, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Georgia
Eddie Kyle Slusher, Postdoctoral Researcher, USDA-ARS – Byron, Georgia
Julie Baniszewski, Postdoctoral Researcher, USDA-ARS – Wooster, Ohio
Aaron Yilmaz, Postdoctoral Researcher, USDA-ARS – Wooster, Ohio
Paul Baker, Technician, Clemson University
Jimmy Lisenby, Technician, Clemson University
Steve Schoof, Technician, North Carolina State University
Nadeer Youssef, Technician, Tennessee State University
Michaela Lubbers, IPM & Sustainability Communications Specialist, University of Georiga
Jenny Barnett, Technician, USDA-ARS – Wooster, Ohio
Noel Miavez, Technician, USDA-ARS – Wooster, Ohio
Julie Brindley, Technician, Virginia Tech

Stakeholder Advisory Panel

Tree Fruit & Nut Subcommittee

Mark Boyer, President, Ridgetop Orchard, Fishertown, PA
Bruce Hollabaugh, Hollabaugh Bros Orchard, Biglerville, PA
Scott Palmer, President, Reality Research, Lyons, NY
Justin Prewitt, Apple Hill Orchard, Morganton, NC
Kenny Barnwell, President, Kenny Barnwell Orchard, Hendersonville, NC
Sawyer Lee, Operations Manager, SOL Farming LLC, Millwood, GA
Andrew Sawyer, Southeast District Area Pecan Agent, Statesboro, GA
Samantha McLeod, Georgia Pecan Growers Association, Tifton, GA
Dr. Cristi Palmer, Program Manager, The IR-4 Project, Princeton, NJ
Dr. Diana Londono, Global Manager Bio-Insecticides, BASF, Research Triangle Park, NC

Ornamental Nursery Subcommittee

Dr. Michael Martin, Director of Research, AmericanHort, Columbus, OH and Washington, DC
Dr. Daniel Herms, Vice President of R&D, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Kent, OH
Bill Hendricks, President, Klyn Nurseries Inc., Perry, OH
Tom DeHass, Extension Educator, The Ohio State University, Madison, OH
Troy Kuhns, Horticulturist, Taylor’s Nursery, Raleigh, NC
Christopher Brown Jr., Horticulturist, Lancaster Farms, Suffolk, VA
Jason Mattson, Horticulturist, Saunders Brothers, Piney River, VA
Bob Black, Vice President of Horticulture, Bennett’s Creek Nursery, Smithfield, VA
Mick Gnaegy, President, Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association, Miami, FL
Dr. Brent Short, Research Entomologist, Trécé, Inc., Hedgesville,WV
Dr. Erin Hitchner, Senior R&D Scientist, Syngenta Crop Protection AG
Dr. Carlos Bográn, Senior Technical Manager, OHP, Inc.
Dr. Jan Meneley, President, AgBio, Inc., Westminster, CO
Julie Graesch, BioWorks, Victor, NY