You are here.IPM Staff
The following personel serve IPM interests across the state.
Dr. Edwin Rajotte
PA IPM Coordinator,
Professor of Entomology
Penn State University
Department of Entomology
501 ASI Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-4641
FAX: 814-865-3048
E-mail:egrajotte@psu.edu
As PA IPM Coordinator for Penn State, Dr. Rajotte is responsible for establishing IPM program goals and activities for the College of Agricultural Sciences. In cooperation with the IPM Coordinator of the PA Department of Agriculture, representatives from various ag industries and government agencies, growers, extension agents, and College of Agricultural Sciences faculty, he provides leadership in the development and implementation of a statewide IPM program. This program involves public education, education of growers and representatives of the ag industry in Pennsylvania, development of educational materials, development of IPM certification requirements for crop advisors, and identification of IPM research priorities. Dr. Rajotte obtained his Ph.D. in Entomology from Rutgers University.
Cathy Thomas
PA IPM Coordinator
PA Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Plant Industry
2301 North Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
Phone: 717-772-5204
FAX: 717-783-3275
E-mail: caththomas@state.pa.us
Cathy Thomas is the PA IPM Coordinator for the PA Department of Agriculture. With her extensive background in Horticulture and IPM, Cathy will build upon the work started by retired PDA Coordinators Lee Bentz and Jim Steinhauer to provide outreach and education on all types of IPM projects. Cathy will also continue to manage the Greenhouse IPM projects in the Lancaster and Pittsburgh areas. She has a BS in Horticulture and a MS in Entomology, both from Penn State.
David Biddinger
Tree Fruit Entomologist & Biocontrol Specialist
Fruit Research & Extension Center
PO Box 330
Biglerville, PA 17307-0330
Phone: 717-677-6116
Fax: 717-677-4112
Email: djb134@psu.edu
My research focuses on developing integrated pest management programs in tree fruits that utilize selective insecticides (i.e., IGR's, Bt's, pheromone disruption) to control lepidopteran pest species while promoting biological control of secondary pests. Orchard ecology research programs with Penn State and other universities have been conducted over the last three years in large plot blocks of apples to examine changes in pest and beneficial arthropod diversity and abundance. Other areas of research are field evaluation of experimental and registered insecticides and acaricides for control of tree fruit pests and examining current levels of resistance and the potential for cross resistance in new compounds and types of chemistry; laboratory evaluation of IGR's on stage specificity and sublethal effects on reproduction in leafrollers; and identification and biology of leafhopper parasitoids in tree fruits.
Staff Members
Lyn Garling
PA IPM Education Coordinator
Penn State University - Dept. of Entomology
506 ASI Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-8884
FAX: 814-865-3048
E-mail: ljg5@psu.edu
Lyn coordinates PA IPM's outreach efforts to teachers, health professionals, master gardener trainers and the general public on the issues of less toxic pest management and common-sense IPM solutions. Lyn is responsible for the creation of "The BubMobile!", PA IPM's innovative outreach tool. She has organized public outreach strategies for IPM at national and regional IPM meetings. She holds a BS in Zoology from Colorado State University and a MS in Entomology from the University of Connecticut, along with completed Ph.D. course work in Zoology from the University of Florida.
Kristie Auman-Bauer
PA IPM Public Relations and Outreach Coordinator
Penn State University - Dept. of Entomology
506 ASI Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 865-2839
FAX: 814-865-3048
E-mail: kma147@psu.edu
Kristie develops and implements the program's communications strategy. Her responsibilities include writing and editing the quarterly PA IPM News, writing press releases and public service announcements, and writing and designing program brochures and publications. She also works on other projects such as writing grant proposals and annual reports, fundraising and acts as the program's grants coordinator. She holds a BA in Public Relations from the University of Pittsburgh and has completed graduate course work in Communications at Penn State.
Michelle Niedermeier
Community IPM Coordinator,
Philadelphia County Cooperative Extension
111 N. 49th Street, Suite KN3-100
3rd Floor North
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Phone: (215) 435-9685
E-mail: mxn14@psu.edu
Michelle is the Coordinator for our Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership (PSCIP). Projects involve working with schools and community groups to build partnerships for safer pest control resulting in healthier homes and families. Additionally we provide outreach education materials and programs to school-aged children and families on less-toxic pest control practices. Michelle has a BE in Elementary Education from The University of Toledo and a MS in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University.
Rhonda Griffin
IPM Home Healthcare Educator
Philadelphia County Cooperative Extension
111 N. 49th Street, Suite KN3-100
3rd Floor North
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Phone: (215) 471-2200 Ext. 109
E-mail: rvg10@psu.edu
Rhonda Griffin is the IPM Home Healthcare Educator for our Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership (PSCIP) Rhonda educates community residents on how to prevent and safely solve common household pest problems during personal home assessments. Through this community outreach program Rhonda provides residents with educational literature to inform them of the health risks associated with high pest populations and pesticide misuse. Rhonda owns a pest control company in Philadelphia and has been serving the residential and commercial community since 1989.
Dion Lerman
Environmental Health Educator
Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program
Penn State Philadelphia Outreach Center
111 N. 49th St. Suite KN3-100
3rd Floor North
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Phone: (215) 471-2200 Ext. 109
Fax: (215) 471-2231
E-mail: dll33@psu.edu
Sarah Pickel
Education Specialist
PDA Bureau of Plant Industry
2301 North Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
Phone: 717- 772-5227
FAX: 717- 783-3275
E-mail: c-sapickel@state.pa.us
Based at the PA Department of Agriculture, Sarah works with the School IPM program, fulfilling a variety of duties, including surveying IPM implementation in school facilities and providing informational materials for facilities managers and IPM coordinators. She also assists Cathy Thomas with the greenhouse projects and other IPM programs. Sarah comes to PA IPM after working at PDA in the Plant Pathology Department. She has a B.S. in Biology from Messiah College.
Brian Schildt
IPM Scouting Consultant
PDA Bureau of Plant Industry
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
Phone: (717) 787-9395
Fax: (717) 783-3275
E-mail: c-brschild@state.pa.us
Based out of the PA Department of Agriculture, Brian works as the IPM Scouting Consultant. He is involved with the Christmas tree portion of the program, scouting Christmas tree farms for pests and making control recommendations to the growers. He is also responsible for updating insect and disease control sheets for various plants, as well as assisting Cathy and Sarah with other IPM programs. Brian holds an A.S. in Wildlife Technology and a B.S. in Agricultural Science, with a minor in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, both from Penn State.
Amber Gray
Curriculum Development Assistant
The BugMobile Coordinator
Penn State University - Dept. of Entomology
507 ASI Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-7994
FAX: (814) 865-3048
E-mail: aeg16@psu.edu
Amber is the coordinator for PA IPM's innovative outreach tool, "The BugMobile!™" Her duties also include developing IPM curricula for schools, and assisting with other PA IPM educational outreach efforts. She holds a BS in Bioanthropology from Juniata College and a MAT in Secondary Science Education from Piedmont College. Amber was previously an 8th grade Earth Science teacher in Georgia.
Cathy Nardozzo
PA IPM Webmaster,
IPM CRSP Research Technologist
Penn State University - Dept. of Entomology
507 ASI Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 863-0604
FAX: (814) 865-3048
E-mail: cfn2@psu.edu
Cathy maintains content on the PA IPM Web site and assists with administrative needs of the program. She is also the Research Technologist for the IPM Collaborative Research Support Program (IPM-CRSP). This international program provides IPM support to developing countries and provides supplies and reference material to researchers in these countries.