Student Introduction: Shelby Kilpatrick, Entomology Ph.D. Student

Howdy!

My name is Shelby Kilpatrick and I am a second-year Ph.D. Student at the Pennsylvania State University. I am in the Entomology Program and am specializing in Melittology (the study of bees). As a Fellow in the Integrated Pollinator Ecology Graduate Training Program, I am co-advised by Dr. Margarita López-Uribe and Dr. Heather Hines. My current research projects include updating the checklist of bee species in Pennsylvania (#BeesofPA) and investigating the evolutionary history of squash bees [Hymenoptera: Apidae: Eucera: (Peponapis) and (Xenoglossa)], specialist pollinators of pumpkins, squash, and other plants in the genus Cucurbita.

I am originally from Copper Canyon, Texas. My interest in insects started at a young age. I find insects fascinating and have pursued multiple opportunities to learn about them and how they impact our world. When I joined 4-H in 2004, I was first introduced to entomology as a science and it quickly became my main project. In 2007, I began beekeeping as a Youth Scholarship Student in the Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Association (CCHBA). 

Through my activities in 4-H and CCHBA, I was selected as the 2013 Texas Honey Queen, a spokesperson for the Texas Beekeepers Association. While serving in this role, I traveled across the state to educate audiences of youth and adults about honey bees, their pollination services, and how anyone could help preserve them. I reached 400,000+ people at 84 events while strengthening my leadership, communication, organization, coordinating, networking, and syllabus development skills through this rewarding experience.

In May 2017, I graduated from Texas A&M University (TAMU), College Station, Texas with my Bachelor of Science degree, double majoring in Entomology and Agricultural Leadership & Development (A-Whoop!). While at TAMU, I was inspired to become involved in research projects by my professors and their graduate students. I also gained a unique perspective on education and leadership through the courses I took in my double major program.

I am incredibly thankful to have had many mentors throughout my life who have made it possible for me to live my dreams. I look forward to creating future opportunities to instill a desire to learn in others, and inspiring them to make a difference in our world, regardless of where their passion lies.

I recognize that each talk/presentation I give to an audience is the only chance that I have to positively and permanently impact their outlook on bees, other insects, entomology, agriculture, research, and science as a whole. I also realize that I can always work towards making the best better; I actively seek ways that I can improve so that I can positively influence future audiences. In an effort to reach this goal, I am participating in AEE 530 and earning PSU’s Teaching Certificate. This spring, I am also serving as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for Dr. Kelli Hoover’s ENT 202: The Insect Connection course.

I aspire to pursue a career as a professor and principal investigator, integrating native bee research with educating new generations of scientists. I am also dedicated to translating scientific results into language that is interesting and understandable to all audiences, so that everyone has access to accurate information. 

I am really excited about the opportunities that I will have to continue positively refining my teaching and learning methods, alongside my fellow classmates, as a part of AEE 530 this semester! Specifically, after joining the first AEE 530 class earlier this week, I believe my time in this course will build off of my prior experiences and allow me to gain/enhance skills which will allow me to become a successful instructional leader in entomology.

If you’re interested in learning more about my academic and extracurricular activities, I invite you to visit my ePortfolio: http://shelbykkilpatrick.weebly.com/

Additionally, my Twitter handle is @SKK_Anthophila, and you can best reach me at my e-mail address, skk30@psu.edu.

Thanks & Gig’em!