Bee Center Team

Bio: Dr. Anthony Abbate is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. His research is broadly focused on insect pollinator conservation, with an emphasis on how human-driven disturbances shape native bee communities in the southeastern United States. His interests include evaluating the pollination requirements of native wildflowers and specialty crops, assessing the impacts of tillage on ground-nesting bees, exploring how invasive plant species and land management practices influence biodiversity, and how forest management techniques influence native bees. Dr. Abbate holds a Master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Entomology from Auburn University; he also attended The Bee Course in Portal, AZ and The Midwest Bee Course in St. Louis MO..

Publication links: 

• Google Scholar
• Orcid
• ResearchGate

Bio: Dr. Selina Bruckner is an Assistant Extension Professor at Auburn University, serving as the Apiculture Specialist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. In her role, she conducts applied honey bee research on sustainable colony management practices and provides state-wide educational programs for beekeepers. Selina earned her B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and her Ph.D. at Auburn University for which she investigated potential effects of insecticides and parasites on honey bee health. While working as a postdoc at Auburn University and Penn State University, Selina did research on effective beekeeper education and organic colony management, respectively. In 2021 she was named the Outstanding Doctoral Student in Entomology at Auburn University; that year she also received the American Association of Professional Apiculturists’ Post-doc Award.

Publication links: 

• Google Scholar
• Orcid

Bio: Dr. Geoffrey Williams is an Associate Professor at Auburn University, and Director of its Bee Center. Geoffrey received an undergraduate degree in animal biology at the University of Alberta (Canada), and then studied Nosema ceranae biology and management for his Ph.D. at Dalhousie University (Canada). Prior to joining Auburn in 2016, he was a research associate studying honey bee pesticide-parasite interactions and tropilaelaps mites at the University of Bern (Switzerland) and Chiang Mai University (Thailand). He is currently Vice President of the global honey bee association COLOSS and an apiculture subject editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology. He is also the recipient of several awards acknowledging his contribution to apiculture and agriculture, including the Apiary Inspectors of America Researcher of the Year, the Alabama Farmer’s Federation Rittenour Award for research, and the Auburn University College of Agriculture Dean’s Grantsmanship Award, as well as graduate student awards from the Entomological Society of Canada, American Association of Professional Apiculturists, and the Eastern Apiculture Society of North America.

Publication links: 

• Google Scholar
• Orcid

Bio: Ms. De La Fuente graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biology. She managed a plant pathology research lab for several years prior to joining the Auburn community in 2008. She has been the lab manager for the Bee Center since February 2019, overseeing administrative aspects of the day-to-day activities of the Bee Center. Her main responsibilities include grant administration, support of scientific and technical personnel, and organization of various Bee Center professional meetings and events.

Bio: Zach completed his B.Sc in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Maine before completing his M.Sc in Entomology at Auburn University. Currently, he works as a technician supporting research on native bee community ecology and conservation.

Publication links:

• Google Scholar
• Orcid

Bio: Noah studied entomology at Cornell University and is interested in public science outreach and education. He coordinates outreach requests such as lab tours, outreach booths, and classroom/community group visits. Noah also organizes special events and fundraisers for the Auburn University Bee Center.

Bio: Anthony Cuminale completed his B.S. in Biology at the University of Central Florida before earning his M.S. in Entomology at Auburn University. He specializes in the taxonomy and ecology of native bees and aculeate wasps, supporting research on biodiversity and conservation. Currently, he works as a technician supporting research initiatives focused on pollinator communities.

Publication link:

• Google Scholar

Bio: Dylan Mahalko currently serves as the lead technician for the native bee side of the Bee Center. He received his B.S. in Wildlife Science from SUNY ESF, before receiving his M.S. in Biology from Bowling Green State University. He completed a thesis on cavity-nesting bee diversity in agricultural towns, spurring a continued interest in topics relating to the intersection of landscape ecology and pollinator conservation.

Bio: Frank Schellace studied Environmental Sociology at Brooklyn College, and in 2024 completed the Master Beekeeper Program with Cornell University. He is part of the honey bee research team at Auburn University, where he supports colony management and prepares hives for research trials. He also leads video production efforts for educational content and research updates on the Auburn University Bee Center YouTube channel.

Bio: Amy Weeks studied Education at Southeast Missouri State University and in 2024 completed her MSc in Biodiversity, Wildlife, and Ecosystem Health at the University of Edinburgh.  In 2014 she attained Master Craftsman Beekeeper from Young Harris Beekeeping Institute.  She is responsible for leading the honeybee team in colony management and preparation for research.  She is also involved in honeybee queen rearing, education, and international development.

Bio: Dr. Léna Barascou is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Auburn University Bee Center. She completed her PhD at the University of Avignon in France on the assessment of pesticides’ effects on honey bees. She arrived in the US in 2024 for a postdoctoral research at the University of Florida, in the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab. She was working on the non-target impacts of mosquito control products on honey bee colonies. At AU-Bees, she is performing research on the honey bee parasitic mites Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps mercedesae. For both mites, she is contributing to field experiments to better understand and to improve how they can be managed.

Publication links: 

• Google Scholar
• Orcid

Bio: Dr. Brandon Shannon received his Bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of Central Florida, and his Master’s and PhD in Environmental Science with a minor in Entomology from The Ohio State University. His work has focused on the inert ingredients in pesticides – the risks that toxic compounds pose to bees in agricultural settings, as well as the benefits that bee-safe inert ingredients can provide in Varroa control. At Auburn University, Brandon seeks to investigate practical solutions for beekeepers to manage Varroa and explore ways to improve decision-making in apicultural pest management. Brandon is a recipient of the American Association of Professional Apiculturists’ Exceptional Student Award and the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees Graduate Student Scholarship.

Publication links: 

• Google Scholar
• Orcid
• LinkedIn

Bio: Sara graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a M.S. in Agricultural Life Sciences. She is currently pursuing a PhD, investigating the interactions between Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) and native plants and pollinators.

Publication links: 

• Orcid

Bio: Skyler graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Applied Biotechnology where she joined as an undergraduate researcher at AU-Bees. She is currently pursuing a M.S. in Entomology, advised by Dr. Geoffrey Williams. She is conducting trials related to the application of biotechnology in parasitic mite control. In 2025, she was named the Outstanding Senior in Applied Biotechnology in Auburn’s College of Agriculture.

Publication links: 

• Orcid

Bio: Madelyn graduated from Samford University with a B.S. in Environmental Science. She is pursuing her Master’s in Entomology advised by Dr. Anthony Abbate. Her research focuses on best management practices for pollinator plantings.

Publication links: 

• Orcid

ALLISON GONZALEZ

Major: Agricultural Science
Email: amg0241@auburn.edu

BLAKE GRIFFIN

Major: Biological & Agricultural Technology Management
Email: cbg0031@auburn.edu

ARI GURLAND

Major: Agricultural Science
Email: ahg0024@auburn.edu

DILLON HAMMELL

Major: Microbiology
Email: dmh0061@auburn.edu

DYLAN HEARD

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Email: djh0069@auburn.edu

CAROLINA RODRIGUEZ QUINONES

Major: Wildlife Ecology & Management with a minor in Tropical Conservation & Sustainable Development
Email: cvr0008@auburn.edu

ALEX SMITH

Major: Biosystems Engineering
Email: acs0238@auburn.edu

TAYLOR HUBBARD

Major: Environmental Conservation and Management
Email: tbh0044@auburn.edu

JON PICKETT

Major: Biological & Agricultural Technology Management
Email: jmp0156@auburn.edu

SULEYMAN ALPARSLAN

Master’s Student, graduated 2021 

CHRISTIAN BAKER

Master’s Student, graduated 2020

DR. JOSH CAMPBELL

Postdoctoral Fellow
Current position: 
Research Ecologist at USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory
Email:
joshua.campbell@usda.gov

WINDI SANCHEZ SOLER

Master’s Student, graduated 2020

DR. ROGAN TOKACH

Doctoral Student, graduated 2025
Current position: Assistant Professor – Applied Honey Bee Entomology at North Dakota State University
Email: rogan.tokach@ndsu.edu