Dr. Michelle Samuel-Foo is NIFA's Chief of Staff and has worked in the area of Specialty Crops and Integrated Pest Management for over 20 years. Prior to joining USDA-NIFA as a National Program Leader within the Institute of Plant Production and Sustainability, she served as the Director of Specialty Crops Research at Alabama State University, a non-land grant Historically Black College and University. Dr. Samuel-Foo also was a faculty member in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida where she served as the Regional Field Coordinator for the IR-4 specialty crops, minor use registrations program. Dr. Samuel-Foo earned a Ph.D. in Entomology and an M.S. in Agronomy from The University of Georgia, as well as a B.A. in Biology (summa cum laude) from Brewton-Parker College.
She is actively involved with the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and the National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS).