Do you grow apples, pecans, or nursery crops? 

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