Dr. Joseph Munyaneza
Dr. Joseph (Joe) Munyaneza is currently a National Program Leader for Specialty Crops in the Crop Production and Protection Program Area within the USDA-ARS Office of National Programs (ONP). Joe has been in this position since November 2016 and oversees research projects related to Vegetable, Fruit, Nut, Sugarbeet, Greenhouse and Ornamental Crops, in addition to ARS IR-4 Minor Use Pesticides Program. Prior to joining ONP, Joe was a Research Entomologist and Lead Scientist at ARS Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit at Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory near Wapato in Washington State, for 14 years. He also served as Acting Research Leader at numerous occasions. In addition, Joe served as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Entomology at Washington State University for 12 years. Joe recently completed an 8-month detail at USDA-NIFA, serving as Acting Director for Plant Protection Division. Dr. Munyaneza received a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Agricultural Entomology, with a minor in Plant Pathology; M.S. in Entomology from Southern Illinois University; and B.S. in Biology from the National University of Rwanda. Dr. Munyaneza is nationally and internationally recognized for his research in insect pests and insect-transmitted pathogens of potato and other vegetable crops, particularly psyllid and leafhopper-transmitted Liberibacter, phytoplasmas, spiroplasmas, and zebra chip disease of potato. He has authored over 235 scientific publications and made over 130 invited presentations at professional and commodity group conferences, symposia, workshops, and field days. Joe is the Subject Editor of Horticultural Entomology for the Journal of Economic Entomology. Also, he is Past President of the International Association of Black Entomologists (IABE). Furthermore, on the behalf of USDA, Joe serves as a member of the World Vegetable Center Board of Directors.