Dr. Yong-Lak Park earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in Agricultural
Biology (emphasis entomology) from Seoul National University, Korea. His doctorate
in entomology is from Iowa State University. Prior to joining WVU, Dr. Park was a
postdoctoral researcher in entomology at University of California, Riverside. His
areas of expertise are integrated pest management, agricultural and forest entomology,
invasive species ecology and management, pollination ecology of solitary bees, and
applications of satellites, drones, GIS, remote sensing and artificial intelligence
for entomological research and pest management.
Vicki Kondo
Research Assistant
Vicki Kondo obtained a bachelor of arts in chemistry from West Virginia University
in 1979 and completed over 70 hours of graduate coursework in entomology and related
disciplines. She has been a Research Assistant in Entomology at West Virginia
University in since 1982. During this time she has procured and maintained the live
insect species that are part of the WVU Insectarium and conducted outreach programs
schools, public groups and organizations. Her research interests include sampling
and identification of local macrolepidoptera (moths) and aranea (spiders) as well
as investigations regarding beneficial insects for biological control.
Elizabeth Rowen
Service Assistant Professor of Entomology
Elizabeth grew up in Santa Cruz, California, with two younger sisters, and dreamed
of being an astronaut. When she realized the food was not so good in space, Rowen
decided instead to help develop crops for NASA. While pursuing a bachelor of
arts in biology Wellesley College, she discovered a love for ecology and plant biology.
After collecting native seeds for restoration projects during an internship
at the Bureau of Land Management in Bishop, California, Rowen wanted to learn more
about plant behavior and ecology, and relocated to Indiana to pursue a master's in
entomology at Purdue University. There, she studied plant volatiles and the effect
of a predator lure containing methyl salicylate on tomato defenses against Manduca
sexta. She then moved to Pennsylvania State University to do a PhD in Entomology,
where she studied the effects of soil management techniques (tillage, fertilizers,
cover crops, and neonicotinoid pesticides) on plant resistance to herbivores and
their predators in both corn and soybeans.
Carlos Quesada
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
Dr. Carlos Quesada completed his master’s and doctorate at Purdue University where
he focused on the integration of chemical and biological approaches toward managing
scale insects. Before joining WVU, he was a pesticide education specialist at Pennsylvania
State University where he upgraded, developed and presented educational materials
about integrated pest management and pesticide safety. Quesada’s research interest
is improving IPM programs to help growers produce high quality crops in ways that
are economically and environmentally sustainable.
Richard Turcotte
Adjunct Assistant professor
Richard (Rick) Turcotte is the forest health group leader with the USDA Forest Service,
State and Private Forestry in Morgantown WV. His work focuses on forest health protection
and the detection, monitoring and management of forest insects and diseases. Turcotte
received his B.S. Environmental Science from Central Connecticut State University
in 1990, his M.S. in Agricultural Biology from New Mexico State University in 1993
and his Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Science from West Virginia University in 2016. He
was an entomologist with the Agricultural Research Service from 1993-2002 and has
been with the US Forest Service since 2002.
Tracy Leskey
Adjunct Faculty of Plant and Soil Sciences
Dr. Tracy Leskey is an entomologist at the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station
in Kearneysville, WV, and adjunct faculty at WVU. She earned her Ph.D. degree in
Entomology from the University of Massachusetts, an M.S. in Ecology from the Pennsylvania
State University, and a B.S in Biology from Wilson College. Her research has focused
on the development of behaviorally-based management tools for invasive and native
pests of fruit crops. She is the former President of the Eastern Branch of the Entomological
Society of America.
Braley Burke
Graduate Assistant
Braley is from Wheeling, WV. She received her B.S. in environmental protection with
minors in biology and microbiology from West Virginia University. She spent her childhood
exploring the forest around her house where she found her love of insects, but as
she learned more about them she understood their ecological importance. Braley’s
Master’s research investigates the impact of imidacloprid, a pesticide, on non-target
terrestrial insects in a forest setting. In her spare time, Braley enjoys hiking,
identifying wildlife, reading, and painting.
Craig Larcenaire
Graduate Assistant
Craig Larcenaire is a graduate student and field technician at the USDA Forest Service
State and Private Forestry in Morgantown, WV. He earned his B.S. degree in Wildlife
Management at WVU. His graduate research investigates the insect pollinators and
pollination ecology of black cherry in the Allegheny National Forest.
John Moredock
Graduate Assistant
John Moredock is a graduate student and State Hemp Coordinator at the West Virginia
Department of Agriculture in Charleston, WV. He earned his B.S. degree in Wildlife
Management at WVU. His graduate research involves the use of an introduced natural
enemy insect to combat the mile-a-minute weed, an invasive plant.