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 Advisor, and YPs Operations Director. The YPs Advisor and YPs Operations Director work together to advise and lead the committee.
2023-2024 YP Advisors
Kyndall Braumuller, PhD
I am currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of South Carolina (UofSC). I earned my PhD in Epidemiology from UofSC, and my dissertation focused on tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsioses epidemiology. I have been involved with the AMCA YPs since 2014—they are my favorite part of AMCA!
Chloe Wang, PhD
I am a research scientist at the University of California, Irvine, and Orange County Mosquito & Vector Control District. I work on epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, vector biology and global health around the world. Mosquitoes and ticks are my favorite pets. It’s my honor to serve and support young professionals.
2023- 2024 YP Committee Members
Drew Lysaker
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
I attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where I received my B.S. majoring in biology. I began my M.S. in biology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where I am focusing my thesis research on the ecology of mosquitoes in and around La Crosse, WI as well as on the vector of La Crosse virus. I love entomology and spend much of my time thinking about and looking for insects and arthropods. When I’m not working with insects, I enjoy the outdoors and baking.
Nicole Foley
CDC- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
I am an ORISE fellow at the CDC DVBD working as an entomologist focusing on a variety of topics such as insecticide resistance monitoring and mosquito rearing. I earned my M.S. in Entomology at Cornell University and my B.S. in Environmental Health at Western Carolina University. In my free time I love to be outdoors!
Caroline Gongora
Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District
I am an Acting Public Information Officer for the Greater LA County Vector Control District. I studied public health and medical anthropology at the University of California, Irvine. As an acting public information officer, I use an array of communication and public relation strategies to educate the public about mosquito control.
Mitchell Kirsch
SC Johnson
I am an entomologist with SC Johnson in Racine, Wisconsin specializing in on-skin repellents. I graduated with my M.S. in Entomology from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and attended undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin – Madison earning B.S’s in Biology and Zoology, and certificates in Global Health and Environmental Studies. My favorite thing about the YPs is meeting people with similar interests.
Becky Cloud
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
I am a PhD student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the Program in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology. I received my B.S. in Biology at Emory University, and during my summers in undergrad, I worked as a lab technician for both the Northwest and North Shore Mosquito Abatement Districts in Cook County, IL. I like integrating symbioses from the mosquito microbiome to mosquito community ecology!
Benjamin Nyman
University of California Riverside
I am a Ph.D. student studying Aedes ecology at the University of California Riverside. I am interested in all scales of mosquito interactions from water column chemistry to population scale modeling and implications on control efforts and disease. Outside of vectors I like to spend my time contributing to iNaturalist and doing entomology outreach for our department.
Carla-Cristina (CC) Edwards
University of California Davis
I am an Entomology PhD student at UC Davis studying insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. I earned my M.S. in Biology at Texas Tech University and my B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology at Baylor University. In my free time I love trying new crafts and recipes!
Jasmine Che
Benton County Mosquito Control
I completed my undergrad studies at Washington State University with a B.S. in biological sciences and began my career with Benton County Mosquito Control in 2019 where I am currently the Vector Biologist. My main responsibilities involve disease surveillance, maintaining our insectary, and conducting field studies. When I am not working I enjoy traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with friends, family, and my two pups!
Teahna Ratliff
South Walton County Mosquito Control District
I am the Entomologist for South Walton County Mosquito Control District. I am a recent graduate with my Master of Science in Health Promotion, with an emphasis in Public Health. My research focus is disease prevention through vector control. I coordinate the surveillance programs and treatment plans in South Walton.
Vilma Montenegro
Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory- University of Florida
I am a Ph.D. student at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory from the University of Florida, and I received a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I am passionate about pest control and science communication. My current research focuses on integrated pest management of Culicoides biting midges that transmit hemorrhagic disease viruses to wild and farmed deer.
Constance Darrisaw
Lee County Mosquito Control District
I am a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Entomology and Nematology. Currently I work as a Field Validation Biologist focused on resistance testing and research with the Lee County Mosquito Control District in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with wildlife and dancing.