ESA CERTIFICATION CORPORATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Programs, and Meetings
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- Associate Director of Partnerships, Programs, and Events
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- SysEB Section Representative
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- Eastern Branch Representative
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- MUVE Section Representative
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- Southwestern Branch Representative
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- North Central Branch Representative
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- International Branch Representative
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- Southeastern Branch Representative
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- Pacific Branch Representative
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- P - IE Section Representative
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- PBT Section Representative
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- Early Career Representative
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- DEI and Grants Program Manager
Elynn manages ESA's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and grant development portfolio.
She earned her BA in Public and Urban Affairs from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and received her dual Master of Science in Business Administrations and Health Administration from Mary Baldwin University. Elynn has extensive experience in program management for non-profit organizations, addressing public policy issues in various community types through public and private grants. Prior to her role, she served as a Project Manager of Community-Police Engagement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Favorite insect: Ladybug
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Initiatives
Erin leads the Society's science policy and advocacy efforts, including the Grand Challenges Agenda for Entomology, as well as overseeing the certification programs. She is a key liaison between ESA and many allied groups and leads the recently established Vector-Borne Disease Network. Before joining the ESA staff, Erin worked with the Society for several years as the leading voice for ESA on Capitol Hill as an external consultant and lobbyist.
While her background is in biomedical research, she transitioned from the bench to the science policy community in D.C. nearly a decade ago and has worked on a wide range of advocacy issues related to scientific research and workforce development, higher education, and social justice for organizations such as Research!America, the Association for Women in Science, and Lewis-Burke Associates LLC. She is passionate about the importance of evidence-based policymaking and ensuring science and research are part of the conversation.
Erin grew up on the East Coast and in the Midwest. She earned her bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Ph.D. in neurobiology and anatomy from the University of Utah. After slowly drifting westward, she now calls Maryland home.
Favorite insect: Western Hercules Beetle
Job Titles:
- Approve Adding Early - Career Representative to Governing Board
Job Titles:
- CAE
- Manager of Communications
- Senior Manager of Communications
Job Titles:
- Senior Marketing and Web Manager
Laura helps educate and engage ESA members, with the goal of improving the member experience. As the marketing and web manager, Laura is the owner and driver of marketing across all program and service areas of ESA.
She serves as the staff expert on email communication, all ESA website properties, surveys, and branding. She also manages the ESA booth on-site at the ESA Annual Meeting. She works to elevate the Society's brand, programs, and services through customer-centric thinking, data-driven marketing campaign design, and strong data analysis.
Laura has spent her career focused on strategic marketing and innovative communication strategies across a variety of platforms and industries. She earned her bachelor's degree in journalism and vocal performance at Indiana University, Bloomington (2011).
Favorite insect: Damselfly
Job Titles:
- Membership, Database & Analytics Manager
Mary helps ESA members take full advantage of all the benefits the society has to offer. Her focus is to promote engagement and ensure that members are satisfied. She also provides support for key member programs and manages ESA's relationship with its outside database provider.
Mary was drawn to nonprofit association work, as an opportunity to support the mission of organizations she feels passionately about. Prior to joining ESA, Mary provided membership and constituent services support at Trout Unlimited, the Greater Maryland Chapter Alzheimer's Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Mary grew up in Annapolis, Maryland. She earned her bachelor's degree in Animal Science from the University of Maryland (2014).
Favorite insect: "Honey bee, but I'm grateful to all pollinators for their good deeds!"
Job Titles:
- Director of Publications, Communications, and Marketing
Matt believes that nonprofit societies like ESA play a unique and important role in supporting scientists and scientific research. He directs the Society's publications, communications, and marketing program. Together, this team produces ESA's eight journals, the member magazine, books program, blog, media outreach, and email marketing efforts. Prior to ESA, Matt spent 15 years with the Geological Society of America.
Matt earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in English and environmental science and a master's of fine arts in writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. He was born on the East Coast but has moved around, including stints in Tokyo, Minneapolis, and Colorado. He now works remotely from Michigan.
Favorite insect: Phasmids
Neil oversees all financial operations of the Society. As the director of finance, he serves as a support vehicle for its membership, ESA management, and the Society's Governing Board.
Neil has specialized in nonprofit association financial management and budget planning since 1997. During that time, Neil has worked for several organizations, increasing his capacity and responsibility in each successive role. Prior to joining ESA in 2008, Neil was controller at the Washington Scholarship Fund, and deputy director of finance and budgeting at the American Legislative Exchange Council.
Neil was born in Washington, DC, and has remained local to the mid-Atlantic region most of his life. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance (1996) from Frostburg State University and a master's degree in both accounting and financial management (2017) from the University of Maryland University College.
Favorite insect: Acherontia styx ("Also known as the death's head moth, indirect subject in one of my favorite movies.")
Job Titles:
- Certification & Strategic Initiatives Coordinator
Rebecca works with the Certification Programs Manager to help individuals quantify and demonstrate their arthropod understanding, whether they are pest management professionals or entomologists looking to specialize their knowledge. She also assists the Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Rebecca was drawn to the mission of ESA and the opportunity to support the important work of championing insect biodiversity and sustainable pest management practices. Prior to joining ESA, they worked as an educator and in the literary nonprofit sector, where they have a background in creative and academic writing. She is excited to continue supporting access to education and knowledge in the Certification Programs at ESA.
Rebecca is originally from Ohio, but now calls Pittsburgh home. They earned a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh (2018) and an M.F.A. from Oregon State University (2022).
Favorite insect: Luna moth
Rosina brings members together to share their passion for insects. As the Chief Operating Officer, she leads staff in creating memorable experiences throughout the year leading up to the society's Annual Meeting in November.
Rosina specializes in nonprofit conference planning, starting part-time with her first association in 1999. She first fell in love with supporting their annual legislative conference. Since then, Rosina has worked for a variety of membership organizations, steadily increasing the size and scope of their conferences and events. Prior to joining ESA, Rosina was the director of meetings and events at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), managing a team of four planners hosting 60 meetings a year.
Born in Alabama, Rosina grew up in southern Virginia. She earned her bachelor's degree in international affairs (2001) and her master's in tourism administration (2009) both from the George Washington University. In 2010 she earned the Certified Meeting Professional designation from the Events Industry Council.
Favorite insect: "Fireflies. You should see our backyard in the summer!"
Job Titles:
- Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Valerie helps ESA members stay informed and engaged. In her role as the marketing specialist, she helps expand ESA's marketing efforts by coordinating a variety of digital marketing tasks and managing ESA's biweekly newsletter, ESA eNews.
Valerie earned her BS in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. During her senior year, she joined a team of engineers as a marketing specialist to help co-found a medical device start-up company. Spending a year and a half with the company, she helped translate Ph.D.-level science to the general public, and as a result, helped raise $20,000 from university pitch competitions. In the same year, as part of her coursework, she also worked with a team to develop a full campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for FOX Sports.
She is excited to help members share their science and continue learning about entomology.
Favorite insect: Eastern tiger swallowtail
Job Titles:
- Certification Programs Manager