Title: Professor of Entomology, Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management
Company: North Carolina A&T State University
Location: Greensboro, NC
Education: PhD in Entomology, Auburn University, AL (2005); MPhil in Insect Science, University of Ghana (1998); Research Training in Entomology, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (1997); BS in Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria (1995)
Career History: Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC (2022-Present); Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina A&T State University (2018-2022); Research Scientist, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina A&T State University (2015-2018); Research Associate, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University (2010-2015); Postdoctoral Research Associate, Tuskegee University, AL (2006-2010)
Beatrice N. Dingha, PhD, Professor at North Carolina A&T State University, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of education.
Hardworking, results-driven, and dedicated to her profession, Dr. Dingha has excelled as an impactful entomologist, researcher, author, and educator, lending her expertise to students at North Carolina A&T State University since 2010. At the institution, she has succeeded as a research associate within the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, a research scientist within the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, and an associate professor for four years before becoming a full-time professor in 2022. Over the course of her career there, she has mentored numerous students and trained several graduate students—and considers seeing their successes to be her most notable achievement. Outside of her primary responsibilities, she has also organized workshops on German Cockroach Control for Refugees within the Center for New North Carolinians, and volunteer efforts at the Annual “Bug Day” Event in Gastonia, North Carolina and the Vegetable Garden Project for After-School Care Enrichment Services at General Greene Elementary School.
An entomologist first and foremost, Dr. Dingha noted that insects have an impact everywhere, “from basic ecology to agriculture to molecular biology,” allowing entomologists to work in various fields. Born and raised in Cameroon in Africa, she earned a Bachelor of Science in parasitology and entomology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria in 1995. She subsequently attained a Master of Philosophy in insect science from the University of Ghana in 1998; amid her studies there, she also completed research training in entomology and integrated pest management at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in 1997. Furthermore, she relocated to the United States in 1999 and pursued a Doctor of Philosophy in entomology at Auburn University, which she ultimately earned in 2005. Dr. Dingha was then active as a postdoctoral research associate at Tuskegee University from 2006 to 2010.
Dr. Dingha’s passion and expertise have been showcased across over 30 peer-reviewed articles published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals and numerous presentations in her field. Most recently, she’s proud of authoring two publications in 2021:”Pollinators on Cowpea Vigna unguiculata: Implications for Intercropping to Enhance Biodiversity,” which was published in Insects, and “Evaluation of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in an Intercropping System as Pollinator Enhancer for Increased Crop Yield,” published in Sustainability. In recognition of the impact of her research, Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) highlighted findings from these studies in their newsletter in 2021. Her research on industrial hemp was also highlighted in 2022 by Business North Carolina.
She has previously contributed articles to Florida Entomologist, Sustainability, Insects, Environmental Sciences and Ecology: Current Research, Azarian Journal of Agriculture, International Journal of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, Journal of Economic Entomology, and Journal of Pest Science, among several other publications. As a speaker, she has introduced new research and concepts at more than 100 conferences, seminars, and forums. In addition, she has received over $6 million in grants as a principal investigator and co-principal investigator in her industry.
Over the years, she collected several honors and recognitions, including a Competitive Grant Award from the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences in 2021, as well as a Publication Award from the college, a Recognition of High Scholarship and Outstanding Research Achievement from Gamma Sigma Delta, and a Presentation Award from the Annual Graduate Student Council Research Forum at Auburn University, among many others. A dedicated member of the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute since 2019, she has also been affiliated with the Entomological Society of America, Florida Entomological Society, and the International Association of Black Entomologists. Currently focusing on insects that gravitate toward hemp, she looks forward to continuing research on pest and pollinator ecology and their interactions with plants to improve food security and sustainable agriculture.