Kiara Ivy is a 2nd year Master’s student of Entomology at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She is from Gainesville, FL. Her current research is “Assessing the Establishment and Spread of Natural Enemies of The Red Imported Fire Ant [Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)] in Northwest Florida.” These natural enemies include parasitoids, microsporidia, and insect killing fungi. Kiara currently serves as FAMU Entomology Club of Excellence President for the 2023-2024 academic year.

She is also heavily involved in her local community helping educate and mentoring the youth in entomology, biology, and other STEM related fields. Outside of research, she is pursuing athletic endeavors for Trinidad and Tobago as a pole vaulter. Her future career goals include going into agricultural pest management and developing novel pesticides and biopesticides.