Kathryn LeCroy

Kathryn LeCroy is an Assistant Professor at Rhodes College, affiliated with both the Biology Department and the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program. Her research focuses on solitary bee ecology, examining health outcomes across urban, agricultural, and natural landscapes in collaboration with undergraduate researchers and community scientists.

• Education: PhD from the University of Virginia

Her research explores the interplay between pollen diets, microbial interactions, and pathogen susceptibility in solitary bees. She investigates how environmental changes affect pollinator populations and conservation efforts.

Her recent publications emphasize non-native bee species dynamics, fungal pathogen spillover, and pollinator conservation strategies. These works span ecology, entomology, and microbial biology, addressing critical gaps in solitary bee health research.

Scientific Awards:

• Scientific Reports 2020 Top 100 Papers in Ecology

Kathryn actively mentors student researchers and teaches courses such as introductory organismal biology, environmental sciences, and conservation biology. She also engages the public through the "How do we Save the Bees?" course series with the Meeman Center for Lifelong Learning.

Her Wild Bee Lab partners with community scientists and uses social media platforms (e.g., Instagram: @beesyall) to disseminate findings and engage stakeholders.