Orkin establishes urban entomology professorship

From left are Dr. Dan Suiter, Orkin Professor of Urban Entomology and UGA Extension entomologist; Freeman Elliott, recently retired Orkin president and member of the CAES Advisory Council; Dr. Nick Place, CAES dean and director; and Dr. Kris Braman, head of CAES Department of Entomology. PHOTO: LAVI ASTACIO

Orkin Pest Control has created the endowment to help strengthen the entomology program in the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

Dr. Dan Suiter, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension entomologist and well-known expert in addressing the needs of pest management professionals (PMPs), has been named the Orkin Professor of Urban Entomology at the University of Georgia.

By supporting the CAES Department of Entomology with this $500,000 endowment, Orkin is supporting science that delivers transformative research to the world and helping to ensure that UGA faculty in urban entomology are leaders in their field. Orkin’s professorship paves the way for new research partnerships that advance the pest control industry, create new businesses and generate new jobs.

“The University of Georgia is very fortunate to have a partner like Orkin to help us increase our impact through teaching, research and outreach,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead said in the news release. “Their generous endowment of the Orkin Professorship in Urban Entomology will help our College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences advance this consequential field and support our talented faculty.”

Orkin’s longstanding collaborative relationship with CAES has supported important industry research, including training between UGA entomologists and Orkin’s Technical Services team.

“Dr. Daniel Suiter’s experience and knowledge is the perfect fit to fulfill the vision of the Orkin Professorship in Urban Entomology Fund,” said Freeman Elliott, recently retired Orkin president and member of the CAES Advisory Council. “As the newly appointed Orkin Professor of Entomology, we’re confident Dr. Suiter will be instrumental in supporting Orkin’s mission of positively impacting the pest control industry by creating meaningful educational opportunities.”

CAES maintains a No. 8 ranking in the world among university entomology programs according to the Center for World University Rankings, due in large part to its outstanding faculty. The college trains entrepreneurs to create new businesses that will invigorate the state’s economy, prepares the next generation of students to be tomorrow’s industry leaders, and supports farmers and agricultural leaders to help feed the state and the world.

Dr. Suiter’s primary responsibility, with a 90 percent extension appointment, is providing continuing education to the structural pest control industry and serving as a technical resource for Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension agents in Georgia. Specializing in insect problems associated with homes and other structures — termites, bed bugs, cockroaches, ants, stored product pests, flies, etc. — Suiter’s program generates, assimilates and extends knowledge and training to the industry while providing additional problem-solving services.

Endowed professorships are among the most prestigious positions within the university and CAES, and creating named faculty positions is one of the highest priorities for the college. The faculty member carries this title when presenting at conferences and seminars, in official correspondence and in their credentials for websites and other published works.