Ashleigh Faris

Dr. Ashleigh Faris is the State Extension Specialist for Cropping Systems Entomology. Her applied research is focused on integrated pest management (IPM) of economically damaging insects (and other arthropods) of wheat, soybean, sorghum, corn, cotton, peanuts, and other agronomic crops including pastures. This includes IPM for established, native, and invasive arthropods. Ashleigh's applied research is aimed at developing practical, sustainable, and economically viable IPM guidance and tools that address grower and stakeholder IPM needs. It is the needs of and relevancy to Oklahoma growers that are the driver for her IPM applied research and Extension programming.

Ashleigh also serves as the Statewide IPM Coordinator, the leader for IPM efforts in Oklahoma. In this role, she is part of a national and regional network (the National IPM Coordinating Committee (NIPMCC) and the Southern Region Information Exchange Group for IPM (SERA03)) that includes multi-state Hatch projects, national coordinating committees, regional IPM centers and federal and state partners. Ashleigh currently serves as the SERA03 Chair. Her role as Statewide IPM Coordinator is critical in shaping pest management strategies, securing funding, and fostering collaboration across disciplines and geographies. As the Statewide IPM Coordinator, she serves as the operational bridge, connecting all levels (scientifically sound and relevant research by reputable IPM scientists, Extension, stakeholders, local and federal government, industry professionals, growers, and federal agencies) and ensuring implementation. Ashleigh's goal is for stakeholders at both state and federal levels to benefit from and contribute to IPM adoption.

Research Interests: Integrated pest management (IPM), conservation biological control, arthropod pest sampling, invasive arthropod species, agroecosystems ecology, crop protection, host plant resistance, pest monitoring, field crop IPM