The North Central IPM Center staff are dedicated to helping you reach your integrated pest management (IPM) goals. With a strong focus on collaboration, our team works closely with IPM professionals and national partners to fulfill our mission of promoting IPM in the North Central region. Feel free to reach out to any of the people listed below, and we’ll be happy to help you connect with partners, resources and funding opportunities.
Laura Iles
Dr. Laura Iles serves as a co-director for the North Central IPM Center, overseeing the working group and critical issue grant programs, in addition to the center’s signature programs. Alongside this, she serves as a representative for the center to regulatory agencies and various stakeholders. Dr. Iles also spearheads the coordination of national pest alert publications, ensuring timely responses to pesticide usage information for the EPA. Furthermore, she assists in developing regional crop profiles and pest management strategic plans.
Daren Mueller
Dr. Daren Mueller serves as an advisor to the North Central IPM Center. Holding the position of professor and extension plant pathologist at Iowa State University and coordinator of the Iowa Integrated Pest Management program, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. With a primary focus on field crop diseases, his research pursuits revolve around comprehending their biology and devising effective management strategies.
Katie Hartmann
Dr. Katie Hartmann dedicates her efforts to address issues of equity and access within formal and informal agricultural education settings. Her primary focus lies in understanding and dismantling the systemic barriers that marginalized communities face in accessing education. Driven by a commitment to inclusivity and social justice, her research delves into the realms of inclusive and decolonizing pedagogies. Moreover, she explores community development through culturally responsive programming, empowering educators and institutions to foster collaborations with diverse communities.
Lynnae Jess
Since 2002, Lynnae Jess has been an integral part of the North Central IPM Center. With her wealth of experience, she has been appointed as the liaison for the North Central IPM Center working groups, playing a crucial role in fostering collaboration and communication among various stakeholders. Additionally, Jess serves as the center’s representative, effectively advocating for its interests and ensuring that the voice of the North Central IPM Center is heard by all relevant parties.
Jacque Pohl
Jacque Pohl manages the communication and outreach endeavors of the North Central IPM Center, with a primary focus on promoting IPM initiatives in the North Central region. Her responsibilities encompass a wide range of communication channels and platforms, including the creation and distribution of the Central Issue newsletter and dissemination of Pest Alerts, which cover national pest issues of concern, ensuring valuable information reaches the target audience.
Kelsey Mueller
As a research administrator, Kelsey manages essential tasks for the overall grant management at the North Central IPM Center. This involves organizing competitive grant programs and maintaining seamless operations during application and evaluation. Additionally, she supervises accounts to ensure proper financial management in line with funding guidelines. Kelsey is responsible for post-award reports as well, making sure they are submitted accurately and promptly to fulfill reporting requirements.
Not sure who to contact? Start with the Center email address.
Steering Committee and Advisory Council
The regional Center priorities and strategies for addressing them are determined by the Steering Committee and Advisory Council. These committees consist of leaders from working groups, NCERA-222 members (IPM coordinators), communication experts, representatives from regional organizations, national programs, educators, industry professionals, and underserved groups. This collective collaboration promotes effective communication and cooperation among the Advisory Council members and the stakeholders they represent. Furthermore, these committees guide the strategic planning efforts of the regional Center.
Steering Committee
The NCIPMC Steering Committee, distinct from the Advisory Council members, plays a crucial role in providing overall guidance for the center’s activities. With its smaller size, historical perspective, and representative structure, the Steering Committee offers valuable insights and direction. Their responsibilities include advising center staff on effective management and utilization of funds, setting goals and priorities, strategic planning, developing signature programs, fostering partnerships, and assessing impacts. Essentially, the Steering Committee contributes to shaping the Center’s vision for IPM in the North Central region.
| Steering Committee Member | Affiliation | State |
|---|---|---|
|
Nathan Bestor |
Climate |
MO |
|
Emmanuel Byamukama* |
USDA NIFA |
TX |
|
Marty Draper |
Kansas State University |
KS |
|
Kerry Hartman |
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College |
ND |
|
Carolyn Lawrence-Dill |
Iowa State University |
IA |
|
Vijay Nandula* |
USDA NIFA |
MO |
|
Beth Nelson |
North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) |
MN |
|
Robin Shepard |
North Central Cooperative Extension Association (NCCEA) |
WI |
|
Jeanette Thurston |
North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NCRA) |
KS |
|
Emily Unglesbee |
Get Rid of Weeds (GROW) |
VA |
|
Bob Wright |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
NE |
|
*National Program Leader |
||
Advisory Council
NCIPMC staff regularly send quarterly email updates to the Advisory Council. Additionally, the Advisory Council members are provided with an annual survey to gather their input on IPM priorities and needs. They are encouraged to distribute the survey to their respective stakeholders as well. Once the survey responses are collected, the Center staff engage with the entire Advisory Council on an annual basis. During this engagement, the survey results are discussed, an annual update is provided, and strategic issues are addressed.
Furthermore, the Advisory Council serves as a crucial avenue for Center outreach. Its members actively promote the Center and its activities to their stakeholders and other individuals who may have an interest in IPM.
