Congratulations to Dr. Pedro Barbosa (a renowned black entomologist at the University of Maryland) on his recent election as an honorary member of the Entomological Society of America. Also, Dr. Barbosa was awarded the Faculty Excellence Award for Research by UMD’s College of Chemical and Life Sciences in May 2007.

Congratulations to Dr. Baldwyn Torto on his recent publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Dr. Torto recently joined the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya as the Head of the Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Department.

Dr. Henry Fadamiro recently received a two-year grant from the National Science Foundation to study neurophysiological and behavioral mechanisms of olfaction in parasitic wasps. Also, his research on the development and implementation of an IPM program for Satsuma citrus in Alabama was recently highlighted by the Southern Region IPM Center as an example of an IPM success story.

Congratulations to Dr. Alvin Simmons on his election as the President of the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America (SEB-ESA). Dr. Simmons will provide leadership to the SEB-ESA during his tenure in 2008-2009.

Congratulations to Dr. Oscar Liburd, the 2008 Southeastern Branch recipient for the ESA award for excellence in Integrated Pest Management. Dr. Oscar was recognized with a plaque at the SEB-ESA annual meeting in Jacksonville, FL.

Congratulations to  Dr. George Opit who has recently accepted a position of Assistant Professor of Stored Product/Post Harvest Pest Management at Oklahoma State University (OSU), Stillwater, OK.

Congratulations to Dr. Ebenezer Onagbola for the successful defense of the dissertation under the guidance of Dr. Dr. Henry Fadamiro and for finding a post-doctoral position at the University of Florida.  

Congratulations to Miss Jessica Ware, the 2007 Eastern Branch winner of the John Henry Comstock Award of the Entomological Society of America.

Congratulations to Dr. Oscar Liburd on his selection for the 2007 research award by the Florida Entomological Society (FES). Dr. Liburd is also the President-Elect of the association (FES).

Margaret Gentz has joined the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Australia as a Ph.D. student. Maggie's dissertation will focus on insecticide toxicology, specifically on the venoms of the Australian funnel-web spider in Australian termites. Congratulations Maggie!

Esther Ngumbi (PhD student at University of Idaho) was recently awarded an International Fellowship by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation (AAUW) to complete her dissertation. Esther also received a Future Leaders Forum Scholarship by the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development to attend the Future Leaders Forum in Washington DC. Congratulations to Esther on both accomplishments!