Questions or comments? Contact:
Dr. Frank Hale
Dr. Frank Hale is a professor of horticultural crop entomology at the University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture. He specializes in diagnosis and management of insect and mite pests of ornamental plants, turf grass, fruit, vegetables and dark tobacco; integrated pest management; invasive pest monitoring and macro-photography. He also supports extension agents and master gardeners in their programming in insect and mite identification and management.
Dr. Amanda Hodges serves as the Director of the interdisciplinary Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM) program. Dr. Amanda Hodges is also the leader for the University of Florida, Biosecurity Research and Extension Laboratory. Her research and extension interests focus on invasive arthropod species of potential concern to Florida's landscape, natural areas, and agriculture.
Dr. LeVeen is the State Survey Coordinator for the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He received his Doctor of Plant Medicine degree from the University of Florida in 2015. During his time at UF, he also received his Master of Science in entomology studying the brown marmorated stink bug.
Dr. Larry Tankersley
Dr. Larry Tankersley is an Extension Specialist II in Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. He holds a 100% appointment in Extension where is interests are in Forest Stewardship on private, non-industrial forest land and environmental education for 4-H youth. He also participates as the library liaison for the department and as faculty advisor for the student chapter of the Society of American Foresters. Larry began with UTK in 1992.
Dr. Alan Windham is a professor of ornamental and turf plant pathology at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. He specializes in diagnosis and management of diseases of ornamental plants and turf grass mycology, microscopy and macro-photography. He also supports extension agents in their programming in the green industry and master gardeners.
Jennifer has worked for the University of Florida Biosecurity Research & Extension lab since September 2014. Jennifer develops educational materials and e-learning modules in support of the UF, BRE lab. Examples of some of the educational materials and/or e-learning modules include content for Florida First Detector, Florida Whitefly, Protect U.S., the Sentinel Plant Network, and the National Plant Diagnostic Network. Additionally, Jennifer is the pest alert coordinator for the UF/IFAS Pest Alert blog. She also assists with graduate student research projects and overall management of the laboratory. Jennifer received her Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation from the University of Florida in May, 2010 and received her Master's degree in Sustainable Development Practice from the Center for Latin American Studies at UF in 2012.
Nicole received her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science with a Soil and Water Science Minor from the University of Florida in December 2012. Following graduation, she knew that the Doctor of Plant Medicine Program would be the next step to take in her academic adventure.
Currently she works for the UF Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Green Industries Best Management Practices Program. Nicole hopes to become GI-BMP Certified in the near future and possibly a Certified GI-BMP Instructor. She would like to use the skills and knowledge gained from this job in conjunction with the tools she is gaining from her DPM education to obtain employment in Extension or Community Outreach. Nicole aims to assist private homeowners, small businesses, and youth with their own understanding of the environment.
Morgan has been working in the University of Florida Biosecurity Research & Extension lab as a lab technician since February 2016. She is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida. Furthermore, she will be graduating in December 2016 with her Bachelor's of Science in Biology and two minors in Anthropology and Spanish. Following graduation, she hopes to pursue a graduate program in Entomology. Morgan assists in rearing insects for experiments including Nezara viridula, Euschistus servus, Badrada hilaris, and many other stink bugs. Additionally, she is working with another undergraduate student to survey cole crop growers to gather information about pest management strategies in Florida.
Brianna Whitman graduated from University of Idaho in 2015 with a Bachelors of Science in Entomology and Environmental Horticulture with a minor in Crop Science. She began working in the Biosecurity Research & Extension lab in May 2016 where she works on insect rearing and extensions. Brianna plans on attending graduate school at University of Florida for her Masters in Horticulture, and later the Doctor of Plant Medicine program.