Hannah Burrack is a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU), serving since January 2022. Previously, she held professorial roles at North Carolina State University (NC State) from 2007–2021, including leadership as inaugural Director of Education & Outreach for the NC Plant Sciences Initiative (2020–2021). Her research focuses on integrated pest management (IPM), invasive species like Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila), and pollinator ecology in specialty crops such as blueberries, grapes, and hemp. She has secured $10.8M in research funding, authored 71 peer-reviewed publications, and delivered over 500 extension presentations to 28,000+ stakeholders. As department chair, she oversees MSU’s Entomology Department—comprising 145+ faculty/staff—managing budgets (~$19M annually), strategic planning, and collaborations with interdisciplinary programs like the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and MSU AgBioResearch. Her administrative role emphasizes bridging research, teaching, and outreach while addressing food security, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture challenges. Research Priorities: Developing IPM strategies for invasive pests in specialty crops Understanding Drosophila suzukii biology and resistance dynamics Enhancing pollinator health in agroecosystems Evaluating pesticide impacts on non-target species Leadership & Outreach: Burrack collaborates with industry leaders, extension services, and international organizations to translate research into actionable pest management practices. She champions stakeholder engagement in emerging technologies like gene drives and advocates for equitable access to IPM tools. Her work aligns with MSU’s land-grant mission through community-based initiatives and policy-informing studies. Grants & Funding: Over $10.8M secured for research, including USDA-NIFA projects and industry partnerships. Current efforts focus on hemp pest management and pollinator conservation.







