Congratulations!

Dr. Meriem Aoun and her husband Anouar are the proud parents of a baby girl. Jana was born on December 2 and weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces.

LaFonda Barrera received a Bravo Award for being a United Way Captain during the Appreciation and Awards Employee Luncheon on December 15.

Dr. Haobo Jiang received his 25-year service pin during the Appreciation and Awards Employee Luncheon on December 15.

Dr. Li Ma received her 15-year service pin during the Appreciation and Awards Employee Luncheon on December 15.

New Face

Dr. Mohammad Arif began his position as Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Biosecurity and Microbial Forensics on October 22, 2025. He was previously an Assistant Researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources with the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Arif received his B.S. degree in Agriculture and his M.S. degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, U.K., India in 2002 and 2004, respectively, and his Ph.D. degree in Biosciences from Jamia Millia Islamic (A Central University) in New Delhi, India in 2008. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in our department from February 2009 until November 2012 with Dr. Carla Garzón.

Notice

Dr. Jan McSwain of Morrison, former Research Assistant with Dr. John Sauer in the 1980s and 1990s, lost her husband Rick, on December 3, 2025. Rick was 81 years old and had a lifelong career in banking.

Necrology

Dr. Russell Emery Wright, 86, died on December 19, 2025, surrounded by family at his home on Skiatook Lake near Sperry, Oklahoma. He was born June 19, 1939, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Paul Emery Wright and Bernice née Calvalege. They lived on farms in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. They also lived in Oklahoma for about 11 months just prior to Russ entering elementary school.

After graduating from Muscatine High School, he attended the University of Dubuque on a track scholarship. He transferred to Iowa State University, where he received his B.S. degree in Zoology and his M.S. in Entomology in 1963 and 1966, respectively. He received his Ph.D. degree in Entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1969.

While at Iowa State University in 1962, Russ met Betty Throckmorton and they married on August 31, 1963 in Ames, Iowa. Their first two children, Shelly and Dan, were born in Wisconsin. Russ moved his young family to Ontario, Canada, in 1969 where their third child, Jason, was born.

His professional experience began in 1969 at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where he started as an Assistant Professor of Zoology – Environmental Biology/Entomology and later became an Associate Professor. He taught Medical and Veterinary Entomology, and Natural Chemicals and the Environment, and his research was focused on mosquitoes. Dr. Wright joined the Entomology faculty at OSU in 1976 as an Associate Professor. His research interests focused on the biology, behavior, and control of horse flies, horn flies, and stable flies. He taught Medical and Veterinary Entomology, and Livestock Entomology. Dr. Wright was Interim Head of the Entomology Department from November 1988 until October 1989, and then again from July 1992 until March 1994 when he was appointed Department Head. He remained as Head after the merger with Plant Pathology in September 1997, and retired as Head of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology on October 4, 2004.

During his career, he authored more than 60 journal articles, over 30 OSU and Extension publications and gave over 60 research presentations. Russ also mentored many graduate students during his tenure at OSU. Dr. Wright was active in several professional societies including the Entomological Society of America, Southwestern Branch of the ESA where he served as President in 1989, Central States Entomological Society serving as President in 1989, and Southwestern Entomological Society where he served as President in 1990. He also served as coach of the Linnaean Games Team from 1984-1988.

Russ was actively involved in community service throughout his life. He volunteered as a Big Brother in the early 1970s, providing support and mentorship to a young man. He volunteered as a Pack Master during his sons' time in Cub Scouts. He was an active member of the Stillwater Kiwanis Club for many years, serving in various leadership roles. He also was a longtime and active member of First Christian Church in Stillwater. After retirement, he added volunteer work with Our Daily Bread in Stillwater and with the OSU Emeriti Association.

He was a devoted and involved father and husband who shared his love of the outdoors with his children. He also passed on his integrity, his compassion and empathy, and his work ethic to his children.

Russ is survived by his wife, Betty; his children, Shelly Norris (Randy) of Sperry, Oklahoma, Daniel Wright (Brook) of Portland, Oregon, and Jason Wright (Kallie) of Louisville, Kentucky; and his grandchildren, Haladar, Veda, and Brandon. He is also survived by his siblings Vernon Wright, Melvin Wright, Eileen Luba, Lorri Dicks, and Bernadine Brown, as well as many nieces and nephews. Russ was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ronald Wright; and sister, Jean Brase.

His memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on January 17 at First Christian Church in Stillwater. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Muscatine, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Daily Bread in Stillwater.

Departmental Seminars

Alumni News

Kevin Jarrell (B.S. 2016; M.S. 2019) and Emigdia Narcizo were married on October 30, 2025. Kevin received his B.S. and M.S. degrees (M.S. under the direction of Dr. Eric Rebek) in Entomology from OSU in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Kevin has been the Hatchery Lead at Ynsect since April 2022.

Billie Ann Jervis (B.S. Dec. 2025) was a member of a team from the Tulsa County Extension Office who received the Outstanding County Unit Collaboration Award during the 2026 Extension Biennial Conference Awards Luncheon on January 8.