He received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (2000) and a Ph.D. in Entomology (2007) from Penn State University. His research program primarily focuses on conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural and urban settings. Recent work has addressed topics such as: integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) in tree fruit; non-target effects of genetically modified crops; ecology of urban community gardens; and pedagogical approaches for improving student quantitative literacy. Dr. Leslie also serves as a research mentor for students in the CSTEP program and is the faculty advisor for the LIU Brooklyn Outdoor Club. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in biology, ecology, biostatistics, and scientific communication. Specialties