Following an internal search, Dr. Gail Langellotto has been appointed Director of the BioResource Research (BRR) program in the College of Agricultural Sciences, effective July 1.
Dr. Langellotto is a professor in the Department of Horticulture and has been a faculty member at OSU since 2007. Her research focuses on the ecology of urban and suburban landscapes, urban biodiversity, and the ecosystem services of urban food production, pollination, and biological control. She leads the Garden Ecology Lab, aiming to develop a better understanding of how to design and sustainably manage urban greenspaces to maximize ecosystem services. Dr. Langellotto has also served as the State Program Leader for the Oregon Master Gardener Program where she was actively involved in science communication and outreach efforts.
Throughout her career, Dr. Langellotto has published more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers, five of which have been recognized for high influence in the fields of horticulture, urban ecology, conservation biology, and extension. She has contributed to 23 OSU Extension publications, including three national award-winners, and has delivered more than 350 in-person classes to over 25,000 people during her 16 years as an Extension specialist.
Dr. Langellotto earned her Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland and has held academic positions at Fordham University and the University of California, Davis. Her work integrates research, education, and outreach, helping broad audiences engage with science in ways that are fun, collaborative, and accessible.
“Dr. Langellotto has been a respected leader in the college and brings a wealth of experience to this role,” said Dr. Adam Ward, Interim Associate Dean of Academics in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Her deep commitment to students, research, and outreach is exactly what the BRR program needs as it continues to grow and evolve.”
The BRR program is an interdisciplinary biosciences major that emphasizes student research in fields related to biological resources, agriculture, environmental, food, and health sciences.
Special thanks to previous BRR Director, Dr. Kate Field, for her dedicated service and leadership.