Erin Cadwalader. PHOTO: ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) has hired Dr. Erin Cadwalader as director of strategic initiatives. She succeeds Chris Stelzig, who was promoted to the association’s executive director at the end of 2019.
Cadwalader began her new role Jan. 2, which entails directing a variety of programs including the ESA Science Policy program, the Vector-Borne Disease Network, the Grand Challenges Agenda for Entomology and the Science Policy Fellows program.
Previously, Cadwalader served as a government relations associate at Lewis-Burke Associates in Washington, D.C., since 2014, where she represented the interests of five universities and two professional societies, including the ESA. Her expert consulting role in the creation and growth of ESA’s Science Policy program made her an ideal candidate for director of strategic initiatives.
Now full time with the ESA, Cadwalader will continue the day-to-day government relations and advocacy work conducted in conjunction with Lewis-Burke.
“When Erin was the team lead at our partner Lewis-Burke, I found her advice to be indispensable,” Stelzig said. “So, when the ESA Executive Committee offered me the job of executive director, my first thought was to find a way to continue working with her. She is exactly the right person to take ESA’s advocacy program to the next level.”
She will also oversee the operations of the ESA Certification Corporation and serve as a liaison to the ESA’s Section Governing Councils.
Willet Hossfeld, certification programs manager, will now report to Cadwalader. Hossfeld will continue to be the primary day-to-day contact for ACE and BCE programs.
Cadwalader has also served in policy advocate roles at the Association for Women in Science, Research!America and the Utah Health Policy Project. She earned her B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Ph.D. in neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah .
“I’m thrilled to join the great team at ESA, because entomology is central to so many of the biggest challenges we are facing domestically and globally,” Cadwalader says. “Whether you’re talking about public health and vector-borne disease, sustainable agricultural practices, invasive species, protecting pollinators, or growing concerns about a loss of biodiversity, insects are ubiquitous. I look forward to helping ensure entomologists are part of the solution to these challenges.”
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