Extension and Outreach

Extension Activities

• On-farm research trials with conventional and organic vegetable growers in North Carolina and South Carolina (01/2021-Present ). Regular meetings and communication with county extension agents and vegetable growers on pest management and on-farm trials

• 2025 Vegetable IPM Extension Agents Training “Western Flower Thrips: ID and Insecticide Resistance Management in Vegetable Systems” (08/2025)

• NC State Mountain Horticulture Crops Field Day “Management of western flower thrips in tomato and peppers”

 (08/2025)

• Southeastern Vegetable Extension Workers Meeting Completed MyIPM Vegetables App training and learned how to update the Southeastern Vegetable Production Handbook (07/2025)

• NC State Graduate Practicum course Overview of entomology research projects for students visiting growers’ fields (06/2025)

• Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) Completed a one-month training program where I designed surveys to understand the diverse needs and challenges, and used a spectrum of Extension tools, including exhibitions, field demonstrations, expert-led lectures, and awareness campaigns tailored to disseminate vital information to growers

(01/2018-02/2018)

• Farmer Fairs at PAU Volunteered at Farmer Fairs twice a year to learn about growers’ problems and share research-based solutions with them (09/15-04/18) 

Outreach Activities

• Represented the Entomology program at the Men of Color National Summit, Greenville, SC (2024)

• Participated in PES-GSA RECs tour to learn research programs, meeting with faculty and graduate students at Clemson University Coastal, Edisto, and Pee Dee Centers (2023)

• Led and represented Entomology Club at Be a T.I.G.E.R Field Day to share Entomology knowledge with kids and the public, Clemson, SC (2023)

• Represented the PES Department at the Fall 2022 Stay A Tiger Graduate Fair at Clemson, SC (2022)

• Assisted Dr. Suellen’s Butterfly Biodiversity Field Trip in butterflies’ collection and identification based on captured pictures at SC Botanical Garden, Clemson, SC (2022)

• Participated and represented the Entomology Club at the ‘Butterfly Festival’ to share butterfly life-cycle knowledge with the public and kids at the South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson, SC (2021)

• Hosted a lab booth to educate the public on local insects at the Party for the Planet Event organized at Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville, TX (2019)

• Co-designed and hosted a live insect exhibition booth on Annual Monarch Fest at Quinta Mazatlán, McAllen, TX (2019)

• Co-designed and hosted a lab booth with live insect specimens, their hosts, with their detailed life cycles at HESTEC (Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology Week), UTRGV, TX (2018, 2019)

Leadership Experience

• Co-Chair, International Advocacy Committee, NC State Postdoctoral Association (05/25-Present)

• Member, Social Committee, NC State MHCREC (02/25-Present)

• Student member, ESA-SEB Nomination Committee, and Liaison with Student Affairs Committee (2024-2026)

• Organizer, Member symposium (accepted) at ESA Annual Meeting (2025)

• Co-organizer & Moderator, Symposium at ESA Southeastern Branch meeting (2025)

• Co-organizer & Moderator, Member symposium at ESA Annual Meeting (2024)

• Co-organizer, Mini workshop at ESA Annual Meeting (2024)

• Organizer & Moderator, Member symposium at ESA Annual Meeting (2023)

• Co-organizer, Member symposium at ESA Annual Meeting (2023)

• Entomology Program Senator to the Graduate Student Government (GSG) at Clemson University (05/23-05/24)

• Member of GSG’ Rules & Procedure Committee at Clemson University (09/23-05/24)

• Graduate Student Representative for the South Carolina Entomological Society’s J.H. Cochran Excellence in Entomology Award Committee (05/23-08/24)

• Graduate Student Representative in PES Search and Selection Committee for faculty position (04/23-05/24)

• Member of PES-GSA Professional Development and Social Committees (02/23-01/24)

• Organizer, Workshop on ‘Standout on LinkedIn: Tips and tricks to network and get noticed’, Clemson, SC (2023)

• President of PES Graduate Student Association (PES-GSA) at Clemon University (02/22-01/23)

• Secretary of the PES-GSA at Clemson University (02/21-01/22)

• Member of Clemson University Entomology Club (CUEC) (01/21-12/24)