I am currently an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.  I have been studying myrmecology (the science of ants) for over 20 years. In addition to my studies of ants, I am also interested in the biodiversity and faunistics of insects and invertebrates. I' am focused on understanding the role ants and other arthropods play in ecosystem form and function, especially in urban habitats.

 

I am enthusiastic about building a strong research program that explores regional biodiversity and the natural history of insects. Please note, that my excitement for nature is broad and I am a naturalist in the Victorian sense. I am captivated by the fields of ornithology, herpetology, mammalogy, evolutionary biology, and of course anything to do with invertebrates. My honest desire within my lab is to provide undergraduate students with research-based learning experiences, mentoring them towards futures as scientists and life-long learners. 

 

Exciting others about science and nature is a passion of mine. I believe strongly in giving back and making a difference in the world-I enter that realm by giving lectures and talks to nature and school groups about science and nature.