I grew up in a small town in eastern Iowa. I worked in turfgrass research at Iowa State University for almost five years before going to work in industry. I joined Monsanto in 2011, working in cotton breeding in Mississippi. It was there, in the Mississippi Delta, that really piqued my interest in entomology. I left Mississippi in 2013 and have been involved with entomology research ever since, with much emphasis on corn rootworm. I currently lead the Entomology Team in Waterman, IL, as a part of Bayer Crop Science. My research interests include landscape ecology, insect-plant interaction, and predictive modeling. My hobbies include fishing, golfing, remodeling, landscaping, and spending time with my family. I am really excited to join the UW Entomology Department!