Alumni

Karen L. Robb: Ms. and Ph.D. in Entomology

After her doctoral degree, Karen took the position of County Advisor in Floriculture for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in San Diego County. She then moved to Mariposa County and was an advisor and county director. Currently she is a Senior Horticultural Specialist with Target Specialty Products Inc., in California.


 

James A. Bethke: Ms. degree in Entomology

Jim is currently County Advisor for Nurseries and Floriculture and Country Director for UCCE in San Diego County


 

Danica Maxwell Dito: Ph.D. in Entomology

Danica’s research focused on IPM tactics for citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella). She studied citrus leafminer oviposition preference/deterrence and the effects of soluble silicate fertilizers on leafminer population growth. Danica id currently a post doc in the Lewis Lab Group at UC Davis


 

Daniel Klittich: Ms. and Ph.D. in Entomology

Danny’s research focused on increasing plant resistance to pests through bottom up tactics and the role these tactics can play in comprehensive IPM programs. Danny’s work centers on silicon based fertilizers and their efficacy in floricultural and horticultural crops, as well as their effects at the individual pest level.  After graduation Danny worked for Redox as Sales and Research Lead for the Central Coast of California.


 

Rod Ferrentino: Ms. in Plant Protection and Pest Management

After his degree and working as a Staff Research Associate in the Parrella lab, Rod moved to Cornell where he was director of the Floriculture Section of Cornell’s IPM program. Rod is currently owner of Ferrentino and Co., Inc., a turf grass consulting firm based out of Trumansburg, NY.


 

Stacy Vehrs: Ms. degree in Entomology

After her degree, Stacy worked as a Staff Research Associate for the University of California, Riverside at the Kearney Agriculture Center in Parlier, CA. She is currently Chair of the Science Department and Science Instructor at Granite Hills High School in Porterville, CA.


 

George Dewitt Christie: Ms. Degree in Entomology

After his Ms. Degree, George ran a mosquito-control business for 15 years and then worked at Casey Farm as the education coordinator for 7 years. George also has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Rhode Island. He is entering his seventh year as a Landscape Designer at Wildwood Nursery and Garden Center in Providence, Rhode Island.


 

Harvey Yoshida: Ph.D. in Entomology

Harvey is currently a Field Scientist at Dow AgroSciences in Washington State.


 

Marleen Malais: Ms. Degree in Entomology (completed in the Netherlands)

Marleen is currently a writer and editor in the Netherlands. For many years she worked in this position for Koppert Inc. where she published “Knowing and Recognizing the Pests and Natural Enemies in Protected Cultivation with W. J. Ravensburg.


 

Ursula Stein: Ms. Degree in Entomology

Ursula is currently a research scientist at the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Heinrichstr. 243, D-6100 Darmstadt, FRG


 

Kevin Heinz: Ph.D. in Entomology

Kevin is currently Professor (and former Chair) in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.


 

Mary Harris: Ms. Degree in PPPM

After her degree, Mary went on to receive her Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Georgia. She is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Iowa State University.


 

Sharon Tachibana: Ms. Degree in PPPM

After her degree, Sharon became involved in nursery production with her family’s nursery (Pacific Nursery) in Gardena, CA. The nursery was sold a few years ago.


 

John Sanderson: Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Currently Associate Professor, Department of Entomology at Cornell University specializing in floricultural entomology and IPM.


 

Clifford Keil: Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Cliff is on the faculty of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and Director of the Museum of Invertebrates.


 

Vince Jones: Ph.D. in Entomology

Vince is currently Professor & Entomologist, Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center, Wenatchee, WA 98801.


 

Oscar Minkenburg: Postdoctoral Research Scientist

After his experience at Davis, Oscar took a position as Entomologist at the University of Arizona and led the biological control effort against invasive Bemisia whiteflies. Oscar is currently an Account Executive with Microsoft in the Netherlands.


 

Judy Nelson: Ph.D. in Entomology

After receiving her degree, Judy went home to Canada and took a position at Simon Frasier University in British Columbia. She passed away suddenly in 2008.


 

Ian Greene: Ms. in Entomology

After finishing his degree (almost), Ian took the position of Director of R&D, Quality Control, and Pesticides and Fumigants with the Golden State Bulbs in Moss Landing, CA. and in 2009 he accepted the position as Research Program Manager for the California Strawberry Commission in Watsonville, CA.


 

Andrea Wagner: Ms. in Entomology

Andrea currently teaches science at a middle school in New Jersey


 

Andrew Merwin: Ms. In Entomology

Andrew is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University.


 

Patricia Thompson: Ms. in PPPM

After finishing her degree, Pat worked as Frank Zalom’s SRA for many years. She recently Retired.


 

Tiffany Simpson: Ms. in PPPM

Tiffany is currently the Assistant Manager and Containment Officer at the CA&ES Contained Research Facility on the Davis Campus.


 

Andrew Sutherland: Ms. in Horticulture and Agronomy & Ph.D. in Entomology

Andrew is the Urban Integrated Pest Management UCCE Advisor for the San Francisco Bay Area, serving Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.


 

Roy Kaspi: Postdoctoral Research Scientist

After 5 years in my lab, Roy worked in the Lewis and Dehesh labs on campus. He is currently a research scientist with The Israel Cohen Institute for Biological Control, Israel.


 

Cheryle O’donnell: Ms. in PPPM; Ph.D. in Entomology

Cheryle recently accepted a position as the National Thysanoptera Specialist and in Beltsville MD. She will be working for National Identification Services in the Agricultural Research Station and working with the National Museum of Natural History Thysanoptera collection.


 

James Brazzle: Ms. In Entomology

After his degree, James took the position as UCCE Advisor in Kern County. James currently has a Research and Development Position with the Gowan Company and is located in Sacramento, CA.


 

Clara Nicholls: Ph.D. in Entomology

Clara is currently Lecturer in the Departments of International & Area Studies and Latin American Studies at UC Berkeley.


 

Brook Murphy: Ph.D. in Entomology (under Ted Wilson). Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Brook is currently the Technical Director and Managing Partner for Crop Protection Technologies PTE LTD located in Singapore.


 

Tunyalee Martin (Morisawa): Ms. Degree PPPM

Tunyalee is currently Communications Manager for the UC Statewide IPM Program in Davis, CA.


 

Roger Sher: Ph.D. in Entomology

Roger is currently on the faculty in the Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Maine.


 

Heather Stover (Laflin): Ms. Degree in PPPM

Heather is currently Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University focusing on Community Horticulture and Small Farms at the North Willamette Research and Extension.


 

Robin Rosetta: Ms. Degree in PPPM

Robin is currently and Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University.


 

Charles Hesselein: Ms. Degree in PPPM

For many years Chazz was the Extension Specialist at the Ornamental Horticulture Research Station, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Mobile, Alabama. He retired in 2011 and moved to Washington State.


 

Christine Casey: Ph.D. in Entomology

After completing her degree, Chris took a position as Extension Specialist/Assistant Professor at NC State. She is currently Director, Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven and Ornamental Plant IPM Program Representative in the Parrella lab.


 

Tom Costamagna: Bs. in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture. Ran the Parrella lab for 15 years as Senior Greenhouse Superintendent. Tom is currently production manager in the US for the Drummen Group.


 

Charles Legault: worked as Senior Greenhouse Superintendent in the Parrella lab for 5 years. Chuck is currently Station Manager for Forage Genetics International in Davis, CA.

 

 

Last Updated: 6/14/2016