North Central IPM Center Staff
Staff of the North Central IPM Center includes three co-directors, our DEI director, communication specialist, and research administrator. The Center staff work closely with IPM coordinators from the North Central States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. More detail about these coordinators can be found on the Partners page.
Staff List
Laura Iles
Director
Iowa State University
Laura Iles (PhD) serves as coordinator for the North Central IPM Center working groups and critical issues grant programs, as well as the center’s signature programs. She will also represent the center and its interests to regulatory agencies and other stakeholders. Iles also coordinates the centers’ pest alert publications and responses to pesticide usage information to the EPA, and regional crop profiles and pest management strategic plans.
Daren Mueller
Co-director
Iowa State University
Daren Mueller (PhD) acts in an advisory role to the North Central IPM Center. Mueller is an associate professor and extension plant pathologist at Iowa State University. He is also the coordinator of the ISU Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. Mueller’s main research interests involve understanding the biology and management of field crop diseases.
Lynnae Jess
Working Group Liaison
Michigan State University
Lynnae Jess has been involved with the North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center since 2002. Jess will serve as the liaison for the North Central IPM Center working groups. She will also represent the center and its interests to our stakeholders.
Katie Hartmann
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director
Iowa State University
Katie Hartmann joined the North Central IPM Center in 2023 as the new director of DEI. Hartmann's work focuses on equity and access in formal and informal agricultural education settings, and the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities to education. Specifically, her research has focused on inclusive and decolonizing pedagogies, community development through culturally responsive programming, and assisting educators and institutions build collaborations with diverse communities. According to Hartmann, agriculture overlaps with health, culture, tradition, family, economics and society. She looks forward to serving the north central region as it meets the IPM needs of all stakeholders.
Jacque Pohl
Communications Specialist
Iowa State University
Jacque Pohl manages the Center's communication and outreach efforts to promote IPM initiatives in the North Central region. Center communications include Pests and Progress webinars, the Central Issue newsletter, the website, Connections blog, Twitter and Pest Alerts (which cover national pest issues). Pohl communicates with regional working group teams to create materials that increase visibility of their achievements and collaborates with other regional communicators on national IPM issues.
Kelsey Mueller
Research Administrator
Iowa State University
Kelsey Mueller joined the North Central IPM Center in 2022 as research administrator. Her responsibilities include coordination of the competitive grant programs, account supervision, post-award reports, and overall grant management.
Center Address
Advanced Teaching Research Building
2213 Pammel Dr
Ames, IA 50011