The Department of Entomology and the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Iowa State University merged into one department, effective Sept. 1, 2022.

Join us in Celebrating this Merger on Friday, September 9, 2022!

Program & Schedule of Events

Afternoon Sessions

1:00-1:30 p.m. Building tour of ATRB or visit Insect Zoo in room 1330 ATRB  

1:30-2:00 p.m. Building tour of ATRB or visit Insect Zoo in room 1330 ATRB  

2:00-2:15 p.m.  Welcome - Steve Harris (ATRB 1302)

2:15-2:45 p.m. Speaker Scott Hutchins (ATRB 1302) 

2:45-3:15 p.m. Speaker Ron Walcott (Speaker will be virtual with all guests gathered in ATRB 1302) 

3:15-3:30 p.m. Break 

3:30-4:00 p.m. Speaker Keri Carstens (ATRB 1302) 

4:00-4:30 p.m. Speaker C. S. Liew (ATRB 1302) 

Evening Activities 

All activities for the evening will be held on the north lawn of ATRB 

4:45-5:00 p.m. Welcome by CALS Dean Dan Robison and ISU President Wendy Wintersteen  

5:00-6:30 p.m. BBQ meal served, as well as ice cream from ISU Creamery

5:00-7:00 p.m. ISU Jazz Band and lawn games 

Speaker Bios

Scott Hutchins was awarded a doctoral degree in entomology from Iowa State University under the tutelage of Dr. Larry Pedigo. Prior to his studies at Iowa State, he received his bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a master's degree from Mississippi State University. Hutchins is past president, fellow and honorary member of the Entomological Society of America, Board Certified Entomologist, and adjunct professor of entomology at the University of Nebraska. Prior to 2021, Hutchins served as deputy under-secretary for the USDA Research, Education and Economics Mission Area, which includes the Agriculture Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agriculture Statistics Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Office of the Agricultural Chief Scientist. Prior to USDA, he worked in the private sector in a wide range of technical and leadership roles, having retired as global leader of research and development for Dow AgroSciences. He currently consults with the Indiana Soybean Alliance and other agriculture-focused organizations and institutions.

Ron Walcott earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in plant pathology from Iowa State University. His graduate-level research at Iowa State focused on soybean seed pathology under the supervision of Denis McGee. He went on to obtain a doctoral degree in plant pathology from the University of Georgia. Walcott has been a faculty member in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia since 1999. He currently serves as the university's vice provost for graduate education and the dean of the Graduate School. In this capacity, Walcott leads efforts to recruit, support and foster the success of graduate students. He also plays a prominent role in enhancing educational experiences for underrepresented groups through career awareness programs for high school and undergraduate students. Walcott is the incoming president of the American Phytopathological Society.

Keri Carstens was awarded a master's and doctoral degree in toxicology, with a minor in entomology, from Iowa State University under the mentorship of Joel Coats. Carstens also holds a bachelor's degree in biology and education from Wartburg College. She serves as chief operating officer for Jord BioScience. Prior to her current role, Carstens held several leadership positions with increasing responsibilities in regulatory strategy at DuPont Pioneer and then Corteva Agriscience. Carstens has published numerous articles on environmental risk assessment. As a U.S. EPA STAR fellow, she has also conducted research on the impact of veterinary antibiotics in agroecosystems.

C. S. Liew, founder and managing director of Singapore-based Pacific Agriscience, earned bachelor's degrees in agronomy and pest management from Iowa State University. He has been in the global agrochemical industry for 45 years. He has worked for American Cyanamid, Ciba-Geigy, Uniroyal and Nufarm for a total of 23 years before forming his own company 23 years ago. He has considerable global experience in agrochemical research, product and market development and sales. Over the past five years, C. S. has been engaged in putting together mergers and acquisitions deals in the global agrochemical space. He is also active in helping start-up companies with novel technologies in biopesticides and biostimulants find global partners to take their products and technologies into the global markets.

Food and Beverage

A complimentary BBQ meal and ice cream from the ISU Creamery will be served from 5:00-6:30 p.m. on the north lawn of the ATRB Building. Special accommodations for meals can be made with advance notice.

Location and Parking

Advanced Teaching and Research Building
(north lawn and inside ATRB)
2213 Pammel Drive, Ames, Iowa

Complimentary parking is available onsite in the general staff parking lots 30, 33 or 35, just north of the ATRB building. If you are attending a tour or speaker session prior to 3:30 p.m. you will need to download and print this parking permit and place it in the front window of your car. If you are unable to print the permit, there will be parking permits available at registration. 

For more information, contact:

Donna Moore, 515-294-1160, dmoore12@iastate.edu