Young Professionals Committee

The Young Professionals (YPs) committee is responsible for planning, facilitating, and coordinating all YPs activities at the AMCA annual meeting. Additionally, they work collaboratively to create the YPs newsletter, manage the YPs social media channels, and provide fun and interesting webinars. The YPs committee is composed of three chairs (past-chair, chair, and co-chair) and committee members. All committee members serve a one-year term, except for the past chair, chair, and co-chair.

The YPs Advisory Group (YPAG) oversees the YPs committee. It is composed of executive board members (president, past-president, president-elect, and the industry representative), appointees selected by the AMCA president (members at-large from the association and the YPs Advisor), YPs Technical Advisor, and YPs Operations Director. The YPs Technical Advisor and YPs Operations Director work together to advise and lead the committee.

2026-2027 YP Advisors

Casey Crockett, PhD

I am a Research Entomologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based in the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Arboviral Diseases Branch in Fort Collins, CO. As the Insecticide Resistance Specialist for the Entomology and Ecology Team, my work focuses on advancing our understanding of insecticide resistance—how it emerges, how it can be mitigated, and how we can strengthen the capacity of operational mosquito control programs to manage it effectively.

Andrew Rivera

I am the Senior Field Biologist in Clarke’s Research, Development, and Engineering team. I work with mosquito control programs across the United States to test and develop new mosquito control products and strategies. I started my career in mosquito control as a seasonal technician at the County of San Diego Vector Control Program, and I was in that role when I was introduced to the AMCA Young Professionals at the AMCA annual meeting in San Diego. It’s a privilege to give back to the group that welcomed me to the AMCA so many years ago.

2026-2027 AMCA YPs Committee Members

Vilma Cooper

Chair

Sumitomo Biorational Company

I am the Global Staff Operations Manager for the Public Health and Forest Health Division at Sumitomo Biorational Company. My background is in developing vector control solutions for mosquitoes and Culicoides biting midges that impact human and animal health, with research focused on insecticide susceptibility, resistance, and sustainable vector management. In my current role, I support strategic planning and manage projects across R&D and Marketing within public and forest health. I am also passionate about mentoring and encouraging young scientists and professionals to pursue careers in STEM and I am excited to bring that commitment to the YPs group.

Jessi Hagleshaw

Co-Chair

Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District

I am a Vector Control Technician with the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District in California. Before starting my current role in early 2021, I spent one summer working with Santa Cruz County Mosquito & Vector Control, which is where my passion for the field of mosquito control first took root. Prior to starting my professional journey, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health and Professional Writing from the University of California, Merced. In my free time, I can be found doing any number of outdoor activities or working on my latest knitting project. The 2026-27 season will be my second term serving on the Young Professionals Committee and I am excited to see where this year will take us!

Carla-Cristina (CC) Edwards

Past Chair

University of California Davis

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Entomology at the University of California, Davis, where my research focuses on insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and developing innovative approaches for resistance detection and surveillance. My work combines traditional insecticide resistance bioassays with biochemical approaches and emerging tools such as Raman spectroscopy to better understand and monitor resistance in mosquito populations. I am especially passionate about translating research into practical tools that can support mosquito and vector control programs. Beyond research, I enjoy science communication, outreach, and mentoring students interested in entomology and public health. I have been involved with the AMCA Young Professionals Committee since 2023.

Kristen Joy Adkins

U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health

I am a Public Health Entomology for All (PHEFA) Fellow at the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health, where I focus on mosquito surveillance and insecticide resistance research. I began my career through the PHEFA program at the CDC Dengue Branch in Puerto Rico after discovering my passion for entomology at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. I am excited to begin my second year on the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Young Professionals Committee and continue contributing to the vector control community.

Zoe Hansen

Metropolitan Mosquito Control District

I am the Vector Specialist with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District in St. Paul, Minnesota. In this role, I work on a variety of topics including molecular pathogen detection, mosquito and tick surveillance, and vector control. Prior to joining MMCD, I earned my Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Michigan State University and was involved in multiple projects focusing on microbial ecology of various environments. I’m excited to leverage my experience in microbiology with a growing understanding of vector ecology to help mitigate arboviral disease in Minnesota and beyond.

Cassandra Durden

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

I am a fellow through the Entomological Society of America and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Entomology for All (PHEFA) program, currently placed with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment in Denver, Colorado. In this role, I am working to optimize vector control and surveillance support throughout the state, as well as utilize historic data to investigate environmental drivers of arboviral disease in Colorado. Prior to joining CDPHE, I worked with the CDC Division of Vector Borne Diseases to evaluate novel control tools for mosquito borne diseases. I’m deeply passionate about building capacity for managing mosquito-borne diseases through hands-on training, evaluation of control tools, and illuminating how environmental factors influence vector ecology!

Hannah Markle

Vectech

Hannah (she/her) is a Laboratory Manager and Entomologist at Vectech with a background in vector biology and a Masters Degree in Molecular Microbiology & Immunology from Johns Hopkins. Her former research entailed malaria surveillance with the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and Leishmania vaccinology and immunology at the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). At Vectech, she is involved with vector collections and identification, data cleaning, mosquito rearing, product development, and more.

Zackary Sieb

Monmouth County Office of Mosquito Control Tick-Borne Diseases Program

Zack Sieb is the Tick Biologist with the Monmouth County Office of Mosquito Control: Tick-borne Diseases Program. He earned his Master’s in Entomology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison working on tick control in backyard settings. He grew up around bugs and pest control, with his family owning and operating a private pest control company in New Jersey.

Samantha Rodriguez

State of Michigan Infectious Disease Lab

My name is Samantha Rodriguez and I am currently working as an American Public Health Laboratories fellow with the state of Michigan infectious disease lab where they plan to build a robust tick surveillance program. I earned my B.S. in Public Health and Biology at Wayne State University in Detroit, and I hope to start a PhD program within the next few years in the field of public health entomology. I am interested in building state capacity for vector surveillance and control programs in MI and across the upper midwest. I enjoy baking and scrapbooking as well!

Jafina Tubbs

The Ohio State University

I am currently a research technician at The Ohio State University conducting mosquito toxicology and repellency research with Aedes aegypti and investigating biopesticides for tick control. I graduated from Boise State University with a B.S. in Health Studies. I gained my love of entomology through several summers working in mosquito abatement and a semester rearing black flies at the University of Georgia Black Fly Research Laboratory. In my free time, I enjoy looking for insects, spending time outdoors, and crafting.

Naveen Kumar

Texas Tech University

I am a Ph.D. student in Entomology at Texas Tech University, working under the guidance of Dr. Corey L. Brelsfoard. My research focuses on developing innovative and sustainable mosquito control strategies, particularly using insect growth regulators and autodissemination approaches. My broader research interests include vector control and understanding how environmental, nutritional, and genetic factors influence mosquito development, survival, and fitness, particularly in response to microplastic exposure. Over the past several years, I have worked with medically important mosquito species, including Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex tarsalis, in both laboratory and applied research settings. Before joining Texas Tech University, I worked as a Research Associate at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society in India, where I gained extensive experience in mosquito biology, molecular research, transgenesis, genomics, and the evaluation of mosquito-control products. These experiences have strengthened my passion for translating research into practical, innovative, and sustainable vector-control solutions. I am excited to serve on the AMCA Young Professionals Committee and to help bridge research, field applications, and the next generation of mosquito-control professionals.

Kiara Ivy

Public Health Entomology for All Fellow

I am Kiara Ivy, a 2nd year Public Health Entomology for All Fellow specializing in insecticide resistance work with the Caribbean Tree hole mosquito in Puerto Rico. I received a Master’s of Entomology from Florida A&M University where my love of public health entomology blossomed. In my free time I enjoy crocheting, going to the gym, and sprint training. I’m excited to join the Young Professionals committee and I hope to see y’all at AMCA!

Andrea Arce

Florida International University

I am a PhD candidate at Florida International University studying oviposition behavior in mosquitoes. As a Miami native, I was always intrigued by the quantity of mosquitos and, as an undergraduate student, I joined the DeGennaro Laboratory at FIU to study the orco Aedes aegypti fertility behavior, As a PhD candidate, I lead large-scale surveillance studies in Miami-Dade County and interact with our local residents on the problems they face with mosquitoes.

Jessi Edmiston

Lake County Vector Control District

Jessi is the Entomologist at Lake County Vector Control District. With a keen eye for detail, Jessi conducts mosquito surveillance, maintains sentinel chickens, and performs insect identification. She is also passionate about participating in outreach events and researching the whining spring mosquito, Aedes increpitus.

Jessi received a Bachelors in Biology from Illinois College and a Masters in Biology with a focus in Entomology from Western Illinois University. Jessi instructed undergraduate biology, math, and STEM courses at National Louis University and subsequently worked as an Entomology Technician at Bayer Crop Sciences maintaining the pesticide-resistant corn rootworm colony and the non-target monarch butterfly colony.

William Craven

Midland County Mosquito Control

I am the Operations Planner at Midland County Mosquito Control. While studying Environmental Science at Saginaw Valley State University, I worked as a seasonal Geographic Information Systems Technician at Saginaw Mosquito Abatement Commission where I developed an interest in the science behind Community-Wide Integrated Mosquito Management. Making decisions based on geographic data to benefit the community while preventing the spread of vector-borne illnesses is something I am passionate about. I am excited to be part of the AMCA YP Committee!