Bee Center Team

Dr. Geoff Williams is an Associate Professor at Auburn University (USA), where he directs the university’s Bee Center. Geoff received an undergraduate degree in animal biology at the University of Alberta (Canada), and then studied Nosema ceranae biology and management for his Ph.D. at Dalhousie University (Canada). He then jumped across the Atlantic to work on honey bee pesticide-parasite interactions and tropilaelaps mites at the University of Bern (Switzerland) and Chiang Mai University (Thailand) for six years as a research scientist. Geoff joined Auburn in late 2016; his work is mainly focused on varroa and tropilaelaps biology and management. He is currently an Executive Committee member of the global honey bee association COLOSS, an apiculture subject editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology, and coordinator of the U.S. Beekeeping Survey. His efforts have been recognized by several groups, including the American and Canadian associations of professional apiculturalists, as well as the Apiary Inspectors of America.

Dr. Selina Bruckner is an Assistant Extension Professor at Auburn University, serving as the Apiculture Specialist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. In her role, she conducts applied honey bee research on sustainable colony management practices and provides state-wide educational programs for beekeepers.

Noah studied entomology at Cornell University and is interested in public science outreach and education. He coordinates outreach requests such as lab tours, outreach booths, and classroom/community group visits. Noah also organizes special events and fundraisers for the Auburn University Bee Center.

Dylan Mahalko currently serves as the lead technician for the native bee side of the Bee Center. He received his B.S. in Wildlife Science from SUNY ESF, before receiving his M.S. in Biology from Bowling Green State University. He completed a thesis on cavity-nesting bee diversity in agricultural towns, spurring a continued interest in topics relating to the intersection of landscape ecology and pollinator conservation.