Our program featured a Classification Talk by Amy Korman, who explained how she eventually became known as the spotted lanternfly person. She is currently a University Educator with Penn State Extension that is part of the College of Agriculture. She is also affiliated with the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland which is the medical school for the Department of Defense. Her official title is Horticulture Extension Educator.
Amy’s hometown is Columbia, which is on the banks of the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Columbia is famous for the National Watch and Clock Museum, The Turkey Hill Experience, and the longest multiple arch concrete bridge in the world. She earned a biology degree from Juniata College and her desire to be an entomologist led her to graduate studies at North Dakota State University. More studies and a PhD followed at LSU and Mississippi State University. She decided to join the Army and spent decades as a medical entomologist.
Amy retired from the Army in 2017 and returned to Pennsylvania where she began her association with Penn State. She is a member of several professional organizations including the Entomological Society of America and the Pennsylvania Agricultural County Agents Association. Her current areas of focus are horticulture and entomology. Penn State is one of over 100 Land Grant Institutions in the United States. As such, their mission is to bring science-based knowledge to the people of the Commonwealth in areas of focus including animal systems, agronomy and natural resources, and horticulture.
Amy supports the organization in the area of horticulture, and also food, families, and health. The Horticulture/Green Industry Team supports companies involved in landscaping, cut flowers, ornamental green houses, and arborists. The team provides educational opportunities and can help with licensing. Her entomology background led her to be one of the leaders in spotted lanternfly training. Amy also does a lot of work with the Master Gardener Program which involves over 3,000 volunteers. She provides basic entomology training for people in the Master Watershed Steward Program. Plants and insects play pivotal roles in our world, yet they are not well understood. As Amy puts it, they are “part of what makes the world wag.”