Education
PhD, Entomology
Expected Fall 2026
Michigan State University
Dissertation title: The Effects of Entomology Education on Participant Cognition and Affect
Committee: Julie Libarkin, Gabe Ording, Anthony Cognato, Peter White (Chair)
Graduate Certificate: Teaching and Learning in Post-Secondary Education
May 2025
Michigan State University
Department of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education
MA, Education
December 2018
Colorado Mesa University
Graduate Certificate: Secondary Education - Science
December 2017
Colorado Mesa University
BS, Biology
May 2017
Colorado Mesa University
Emphasis in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Research
Research Assistant
June 2023 - August 2024, May 2025 - Present
MothEd Project
Michigan State University
Curriculum Design • Teacher Coordination • PD Design & Instruction • Lab Management • 3D Printing • CAD Software • Mentorship • Insect Trapping, Pinning, Identification and Collections Management
Research Technician
May - July 2016
Yanayacu Biological Research Station, Cosanga, Ecuador
Trapping • Pinning • Project Coordination • Trail Guide
Teaching & Mentoring
Instructor
2025 - Present
ISB 201: Insects, Globalization, and Sustainability Lecture
Center for Integrated Studies in General Science, Michigan State University
1 section, 48 students
Graduate Teaching Assistant
2024 - 2025
ISB 201L: Insects, Globalization, and Sustainability Laboratory
Center for Integrated Studies in General Science, Michigan State University
3 sections, 90 students
EROF Mentee
Science Teacher
2018 - 2022
7th Grade Science
Mount Garfield Middle School, Mesa County School District #51
Grand Junction, Colorado
Publications: Peer Reviewed
-
Brown, C.B., Conley, E. S., White, P.J.T. (In Press) Engaging Students as Scientists: Authentic Ecological Investigation with MothEd. American Biology Teacher.
-
Brown, C.B., Conley, E. S., White, P. J. T. (In Press) Assessing the performance of a 3D printed Pennsylvania-style black light moth trap. Great Lakes Entomologist.
-
White, P., Stroupe, D., Brown, C. B., Conley, E. S., & McMahon, S. (2025). Insect collecting with K-12 aged students: Balancing educational value and ethical considerations. The Journal of Environmental Education, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2025.2567386
-
Brown, C.B., White, P. J. T. (2024) Entomologist in the K-12 Classroom: A Scoping Review. Insects, 15(10), 742. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100742
-
Keas, B.; White, P. J. T.; Brown, C. B.; Stroupe, D.; Best, S. G.; & Letarte, M. (2024). Conducting Authentic Moth Research with Students to Encourage Scientific Inquiry. Science Scope, 47(4), 56–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/08872376.2024.2363112
Publications: Non-Peer Reviewed
-
Brown, C.B., Conley, E. S., White, P. J. T. (2025) MothEd Teacher Guide: A Practical Guide to the MothEd Curriculum.
Publications: Other Science Media
-
MothEd Resources - Educational materials to support the implementation of MothEd
-
Ento-History - Public calendar highlighting important dates related to insects
-
Moth Moments - Short form educational videos about moths
Presentations: Conferences
-
“Learning with Leps: Igniting Curiosity with Real Science in the Classroom” (Talk), Entomological Society of America (ESA) National Meeting 2025, Portland, Oregon, November 2025.
-
​“Gnat: A virtual TA to Improve Accessibility” (Poster), Entomological Society of America (ESA) National Meeting 2025, Portland, Oregon, November 2025.
-
“Empowering Student Scientists Through Local Insect Ecology: The MothEd Teacher Guide” (Poster), National Biology Teacher Association (NABT) and Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER) Joint Meeting 2025, St. Louis, Missouri, October 2025.
-
“Does Size Matter? Assessing the Effect of Funnel Size on Trapping Success in Pennsylvania Style Black Light Moth Traps” (Poster), Entomological Society of America (ESA) North Central Branch Meeting 2025, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 2025.
-
“Making Moth Research Accessible” (Poster), Entomological Society of America (ESA) National Conference 2024, Phoenix, Arizona, November 2024.
-
“Entomologists in the K-12 Classroom” (Poster), Excellence in Insect Science Symposium, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, May 2024.
-
“Entomologist in the Classroom: A Scoping Review” (Poster), Entomological Society of America (ESA) National Conference 2023, National Harbor, Maryland, November 2023.
-
“Decoding Arctiid Aposematism: Testing predator preference to variations in aposematic color patterns in arctiid moths of Ecuador” (Talk), Student Showcase, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado, May 2017.
Presentations: Education & Outreach
-
“Bugs from your Backyard” (Outreach Event), Diverse and Inclusive Collaborative Education (DICE), DeWitt, Michigan, May 2025.
-
“Bugs in Bottles” (Outreach Event), Lansing Public School District, Lansing, Michigan, February 2025.
-
“MothEd Professional Development” (Workshop), MothEd 2024 Summer Teacher Camp, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, July 2024.
-
“All About Bugs” (Workshop), Grand Parent’s University (GPU), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, June 2024.
-
​“MothEd – Research Investigations of Moth Biodiversity” (Workshop), Michigan Science Teachers Association Conference (MSTA) 2023, Lansing, Michigan, March 2023.
-
“Decoding Arctiid Aposematism: Testing predator preference to variations in aposematic color patterns in arctiid moths of Ecuador” (Talk), Student Showcase, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado, May 2017.
Honors & Awards
Harlo Mork Graduate TA Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University
2025
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
2025
President’s Prize: P-IE and FIT, Biodiversity and Conservation, 2nd Place, Entomological Society of America – National Meeting, Phoenix, AZ
2024
Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Collaboration, Learning, and Engagement (CIRCLE) Graduate Fellowship, Michigan State University
2024 - 2025
1st Place, Entomology Games, Entomological Society of America - North Central Branch Meeting, Fort Collins, CO
2024
J.E. and Jean M. McPherson Graduate Student Travel Award
2024
NCB Educational Project Award, Entomological Society of America
2024
Hutson Travel Award, Michigan State University
2023
Media Appearances
“Improving mENTal Health and Wellness at Michigan State University” ISPMHA June 2025 Monthly Newsletter. International Science Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance.
Certifications & Training
STEM Ambassadors Program, STEM Outreach Certification
2023
Colorado Teaching License, Secondary Education: Science
2017
Membership & Service
National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
Member, 2025 - Present
Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER)
Member, 2024 - Present
Entomological Society of America (ESA)
Member, 2023 - Present
Student Sub-Committee
Formal & Informal Teaching Section, Entomological Society of America
Student Member 2025 - Present
College Advisory Council (CAC)
College of Natural Resources, Michigan State University
Graduate Student Representative 2024 - 2025
Graduate Committee
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
Graduate Student Representative 2023 - 2024
Graduate, Undergraduate Entomology Student Society (GUESS)
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
Vice President 2024 - 2025
Graduate Committee Representative 2023-2024