I've been a member of the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department since 1977, initially hired by Dr. Carroll Southards right after graduate school. Raised in Detroit, my early passion for nature led me to Michigan State University where I earned my B.S. in 1972 and M.S. in 1974. Under the late C. W. Laughlin, I pursued my M.S. studies.

Continuing in nematology at the University of Georgia, I earned my Ph.D. in 1977 under Richard S. Hussey, focusing on nematicide movement in soil and population dynamics of cotton nematodes. Throughout my tenure at Tennessee, I've concentrated on root-knot nematode management, nematode community structures in nurseries and annual crops, as well as nematode systematics.

I've also dedicated significant effort to the taxonomy of Collembola and Protura. My achievements owe much to the outstanding graduate students I've had the privilege to work with. Their successes bring me immense satisfaction.

My extensive training in entomology, plant pathology, and nematology enables me to contribute to various courses in the department. Additionally, I've been deeply involved in scientific editing, serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nematology, and as an editor for Zootaxa. I'm honored to be a Fellow of the Society of Nematologists and was named the Michigan State University Distinguished Alumnus in Entomology in 2018.