Imported Fire Ant Leadership Team
Composition of the leadership team: The Imported Fire Ant CoP leadership team includes academic and Extension employees from 1862- and 1890- Land-Grant Universities, and representatives from the USDA APHIS PPQ Soil Inhabiting Pests Section. The team will evolve over time, depending on the goals and objectives set by the CoP.
Task-oriented Work Teams The Imported Fire Ant CoP has a number of standing work teams, each devoted to a specific component of eXtension. Leadership and membership of these teams cahnges over time. Additional work teams are added as needed. Composition of these teams is included in these certification materials.
Leaders:
Dr. Kathy Flanders, Extension Entomologist and Associate Professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University. Dr. Flanders will develop activities to allow for the continuing engagement of the CoI. She will facilitate interaction within and between the CoP work team, the CoP, and the CoI. She takes primary responsibility for updating the CoP Profile. Current work team assignments include leadership of the "Where are Fire Ants" team, and co-leadership of the Impact Evaluation team.
Dr. Bastiaan M. "Bart" Drees, Professor, Extension Entomologist, and Regents Fellow, Texas Cooperative Extension. Dr. Drees is currently providing leadership for teams developing the the Landscape IPM module, the Biological Control Section, enodrsement partnerships, sponsorships, and impact evaluation. He helps engage the fire ant CoP, and serve as a reviewer or content provider on numerous other work teams.
Ms. Anne-Marie Callcott, Deputy Laboratory Director, Soil Inhabiting Pests Section, USDA APHIS PPQ Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, Gulfport, MS. Ms. Callcott leads the work team responsible for developing the information for a regulatory site module.
Ms. Molly Keck Extension Agent IPM, Texas AgriLife Extension, was co-leader of the effort to develop the Master Gardener module on Fire Ant eXtension. She currently serves as coleader of the Social MEdia work team and as a content provider or reviewer for other teams.
Ms. Margaret Lawrence, Specialist III, Comm & Marketing, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES). Ms. Lawrence is the media contact and marketing liaison for the fire ant CoP. She currently leads efforts to expand the use of social media within the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. She will co-lead the work team responsible for the official Fire Ant eXtension Facebook Page and the Twitter Micro-blog.
Dr. Jason Oliver, Research Associate Professor - Entomology, Tennessee State University. Dr. Oliver leads fire ant eXtension activities for Tennessee, and is assisting in engaging the public via webinars. He will provide content for various work teams.
Dr. Kelly Loftin, Extension Entomologist and Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas. Dr. Loftin leads fire ant eXtension activities in Arkansas. He is co-leader of the "Where Are Fire Ants" work team. He will assist in activities to engage current members of the fire ant CoP, as well as grow the CoP. He will provide content for various work teams. Dr. Loftin leads the effort to develop an IPM3 learning module on fire ants, and will serve as the liaison between that project and fire ant eXtension.
Dr. Paul R. Nester, Extension Agent IPM, Texas AgriLife Extension. Dr. Nester led the effort to develop the Youth module. He is co-leader of the Youth Content work team, which will maintain current youth content and develop additional content. He is also co-leader of the FAQ team.
Ms. Kelly Ridley Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology, leads of the effort to develop new Frequently-Asked-Questions. She also partiicpates in youth and social media efforts.
Dr. Carol A. Whatley, Director, Extension Communications, Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Dr. Whatley will collaborate in technical writing, copy editing, and marketing for the CoP.
Advisors:
Dr. Paul L. Mask, Assistant Director, Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and Professor, Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University. Administrative Advisor to the Imported Fire Ants CoP.
Dr. Herb Bolton, National Program Leader, Army Environmental Programs, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. National Program Leader for the Imported Fire Ants CoP.
