Celebration Corner

Lewis receives PCOC Lifetime Achievement Award

Vernard Lewis, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension urban entomology specialist, has received the 2024 Harvey Logan Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pest Control Operators of California.

In a news release, Lee Whitmore, a PCOC past president, said, “Vernard has been an unparalleled champion for our industry for decades. His research has been instrumental in protecting the consumer public by ensuring industry professionals communicate accurately about pest control technologies and processes. His collaboration and research have enhanced the effectiveness of various treatment technologies through meticulous yet fair evaluation, benefiting both professionals and consumers alike.”

Lewis joined UC Berkeley as a Professor of Cooperative Extension in 1991 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management.

As an internationally recognized expert on urban pests, Lewis has published more than 150 papers and delivered more than 700 presentations on termites, bed bugs and cockroaches. He is probably best known for his termite research, which largely occurred in Villa Termiti, a 400-square-foot structure at UC Berkeley's Richmond Field Station designed to test alternative pest control methods.

Lewis also has been instrumental in supporting PCOC's Termite Academy, which has been hosted at the UC Berkeley's Richmond Field Station since 2018.

Whitmore said, “Perhaps his most significant contribution lies in his efforts to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the field of entomology. By serving as a mentor and inspiration to minority individuals and women, Dr. Lewis has helped to address the historical underrepresentation of these groups in the field. In doing so, he has not only opened doors for countless aspiring entomologists and pest control professionals, but has also enriched the industry with diverse perspectives and talents.”

Vela honored with inaugural Workplace Inclusion and Belonging Award

Ricardo Vela, manager of News and Information Outreach in Spanish, received UC ANR's inaugural Workplace Inclusion and Belonging Award.

Elizabeth Moon, director of Workplace Inclusion and Belonging, created this award to recognize outstanding individuals or groups within the ANR community who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, leadership and innovation in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

“It's about celebrating those who encourage and inspire this culture,” Moon said, “those who showcase best practices and innovative approaches for promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as those who foster the networking opportunities and the connections that come from that.”

In announcing Vela as the first recipient of the award, Moon said, “Ricardo is someone who his nominators say is the first person they think of when they think of inclusiveness within ANR. They say that it's his daily goal to showcase the diversity in ANR and celebrate Latinos and other ethnic groups within the division.

“He has created and spearheaded numerous programs and initiatives that have brought in diverse perspectives, fostered greater understanding and increased feelings of belonging and recognition among staff and academics. And he always finds ways to promote inclusiveness and build community in our organization.”

Vela's name will be engraved on a plaque that will be placed outside the Valley Room at the ANR building in Davis.

 

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