A Letter From Christelle Guédot: New Role Update
Dear Fruit Growers,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to inform you of an important change in my professional responsibilities that will affect our ongoing relationship. After much consideration and discussion with my Department, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Division of Extension, my position has changed: I will no longer be an extension specialist and instead will take on more responsibilities in research and instruction.
This decision was not made lightly and came with a heavy heart as I have greatly enjoyed, over the past 12 years, working alongside you, sharing knowledge and learning from you, and collaborating with many of you to improve management strategies for insect pests in fruit production in Wisconsin and beyond. The relationships we have built and the progress we have made together to find solutions to the entomological challenges we face in fruit production have been incredibly rewarding to me, my career, and my professional development. I believe that dedicating more time to research will allow me to contribute to the entomological field in a different but hopefully impactful way to your industries and I will continue to work with many of you to find alternative management strategies.
My new role will involve research focused on chemical and behavioral ecology and integrated pest management of insect pests and I intend to continue addressing pest issues in fruit production. I also plan to continue extending my lab’s research findings that can benefit Wisconsin industries at grower events. Additionally, I will be teaching and mentoring the next generation of entomologists on integrated pest management and pollinators to ensure students are well-equipped to support and advance the field in the future.
I understand that this transition may raise concerns about the continuity of support you have come to rely on, and I wanted to let you know that the Department of Entomology will be starting the search for a new Fruit Crop Entomologist and Extension Specialist this Fall. In the meantime, please contact your local extension offices with questions as they will be able to provide you with the resources and assistance you may need.
Thank you for your understanding and for the trust you have placed in me over the years. It has been an honor to work alongside such a dedicated and innovative community of growers. I am confident that through continued collaboration and with the support of my wonderful fruit lady colleagues, we will continue to provide great leadership in the field of fruit production. Should you have any questions, concerns, or need further information about my change in appointment, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Division of Extension leadership.
Wishing you all the best and happy growing season to all of you!
Christelle Guédot, Associate Professor
Department of Entomology
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Madison, WI 53706
guedot@wisc.edu