FAMU's entomology role for the 1890 land grant mission: Supporting the stakeholders, clientele, and partners

The Entomology Program in the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS) at Florida A&M University (FAMU) is recognized nationally and internationally for its excellence in teaching and research. The Entomology Program started in 1952 by Dr. Margaret Collins in the Department of Biology at FAMU. Dr. Collins was honored posthumously by the Entomological Society of America in December 1997 with a symposium entitled “A tribute to Margaret Collins, a biologist with a passion for termites”. She was also recognized as the first black female entomologist in the United States. Dr. William Lee Peters was the second entomologist at FAMU and the Director of the Land-Grant Programs. Dr. Peters joined FAMU in 1966 and recruited several other faculty members, students, and staff to develop a strong program in aquatic entomology. Currently, this program housed one of the largest collections of mayflies in the nation and worldwide. Indeed, the Entomology Program grew and became affiliated with the Center for Biological Control in 2000, thus, creating a unique partnership between the CAFS, USDA, APHIS and ARS. This unique partnership has been very successful, and more than 150 undergraduate, graduate, and exchange students have earned their BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in entomology. The Entomology Program is actively engaged with the community, stakeholders, and partners to provide the necessary knowledge, skillsets, and abilities to sustain food security, human health, and natural resources. In addition to ongoing cutting-edge research, the Entomology Program provides continuing education credits to pest control professionals and conducts outreach activities.