I wish I could say I grew up with an innate fascination for the insect world—that I was one of those kids who spent hours flipping over rocks to marvel at beetles and ants. But the truth is, growing up in urban Los Angeles, I rarely interacted with nature at all. And insects? I was terrified of them. I was the last person to volunteer for anything involving creepy crawlies.
That all changed in college. I enrolled in an introductory environmental science class, and one guest lecture changed the course of my life. A campus professor gave a talk on agroecology, describing how their work wove together science, practice, and social movements to promote sustainable pest management. I was captivated. Here was a discipline that tackled food production, ecological health, and community well-being—all at once. It felt like a bold, grounded approach to conservation—not one that isolates nature in national parks, but one that weaves ecological thinking into everyday landscapes like farms and gardens.
I emailed him that very day, requesting an internship—and he agreed. My first day on the job found me in a vineyard in the Central Valley, shaking grapevines over a beating sheet, pretending I wasn’t afraid as a swarm of insects fell onto the canvas. The graduate students in the lab patiently taught me how to tell wasps from bees, bugs from beetles, and moths from butterflies. They also introduced me to the foundational concepts of biological and cultural control—how pests can be managed using natural enemies and sustainable farming practices. Later that year, one of those graduate students asked if I’d be willing to host one of his beehives in my backyard. I instantly fell in love with those bees—their complex, maternal society, their admirable work either, and the delicious honey they produced. That hive sealed it for me: I was going to become an entomologist.
After graduating, I apprenticed at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, where I sharpened my skills in horticulture, including irrigation, nutrient management, composting, greenhouse production, and pest management. I worked across a diverse range of crops, from annual vegetables to ornamentals and perennial fruit trees. During my Ph.D. and postdoctoral work, I focused on how farm and garden management practices influence wild bees and their susceptibility to the parasites and pathogens implicated in pollinator declines. My research sits at the intersection of agriculture and ecology, and I’ve always believed that productive farming and environmental stewardship should go hand in hand.
Now, I serve as an Extension Advisor with the University of California, based in Ventura County. As an entomologist, my primarily focus is on integrated pest management of insect pests, including identification and monitoring, developing cultural and biological control methods, and evaluating new chemical control products. One of the best parts of my job is the incredible variety of crops I get to work with, including avocado, citrus, strawberries, cole crops, and greenhouse ornamentals – working with so many different commodities means that I’m constantly learning. In my work I aim to provide science-based, practical recommendations that help farmers, pest control advisors, and others in the industry to effectively manage pests while safeguarding beneficial insects and human health. For example, I’m currently leading several projects that explore how small-scale habitat enhancements—like hedgerows or cover crops—can improve pest control and support wild pollinators in citrus orchards.
I didn’t set out to become an entomologist. But through a mix of chance, community, and unexpected inspiration, I’ve found myself surrounded by insects—not in fear, but in deep fascination and appreciation.