Lorena N. Lacersa is a new assistant professor in crop and soil sciences in the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture at the University of Georgia. She was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota. Her research focus is developing integrative precision agricultural management systems for sustainable food and fiber production. This work includes research on remote sensing, crop yield prediction, and variable rate technology for irrigation and fertilizer application.
Dr. Lacersa is a graduate of the Federal University of Lavras in Brazil, where she majored in agronomy. She holds a Ph.D. in crop and soil sciences from the University of Georgia.
Sara D. Nelson was appointed director of the Iowa Space Grant Consortium. The NASA-supported agency is part of Iowa State’s department of aerospace engineering and works to improve and inspire Iowa’s involvement in STEM education. Dr. Nelson also holds a faculty position in Iowa State’s School of Education and conducts research in STEM education.
Dr. Nelson is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she majored in elementary education. She holds a master’s degree in science education and a Ph.D. in education from Iowa State University.
Hongmei Li-Byarlay was promoted to research associate professor of entomology at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and was granted tenure. She studies behavioral ecology, genetics, and physiology of social bees. Her research lab focuses on the proximate and ultimate causes of social behavior and the molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior.
Dr. Li-Byarlay earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and education at Tianjin Normal University in China and a master of science degree in zoology at Nan Kai University in Tianjin. She holds a Ph.D. in entomology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Stacy Gee Hollins was appointed interim associate provost of academic affairs at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis. Dr. Hollins will continue to serve as dean of the Anheuser-Busch School of Business at the university, a post she has held since 2020. Earlier, she was an associate professor of management information systems at Maryville University in St. Louis.
Dr. Hollins is a graduate of Saint Louis University, where she majored in organizational studies and communications. She holds an MBA from Fontbonne University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Jessica Gurevitch was appointed professor and department head for forestry and natural resources in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She was a Distinguished Professor and chair of the department of ecology evolution at Stony Brook University in New York.
Dr. Gurevitch earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences/ecology, evolution, and systematics from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She holds a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Arizona.