Artist to federal entomologist: A journey of a non-traditional student

Dr. Megan Asche is a government regulator for the United States Dept. of Agriculture and a recent addition to WSU’s adjunct faculty. She was awarded a BA in design from Western Washington University in 2018 and worked as a communication artist for six years. In 2013, Megan purchased her first SLR camera and quickly became enamored with capturing arthropod subjects. Ultimately her passion for photography convinced her, at age 31, to change professions and go back to school to the study insects. She was awarded a MS (2018) and PhD (2021) from Washington State University, where she researched insect behavior. Megan currently serves as an Insect Identifier for USDA-APHIS’s Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (PPQ). Within this position, she is a part of a national network of entomologists, botanists, and plant pathologist that monitor international trade. In this presentation, Megan will provide an overview of how PPQ identifiers utilize their broad taxonomic knowledge and imaging skills to protect American agriculture and regulate potential devastating pests. She will also discuss how her non-traditional background supported her transition from graduate student to early career professional.