James Frazier, PhD

Dr. Frazier is a Professor Emeritus at Penn State University, retiring in 2014 after 25 years of service. He received his Ph.D. in Entomology with a specialty in insect physiology at the Ohio State University in 1970. He went through the academic ranks at Mississippi State University from 1970 – 1980, was a Senior Scientist and Research Associate at DuPont Agricultural Products from 1981-89, and was Department Head at Penn State, leading a transformative period for the department.

Dr. Frazier has a broad understanding of production agriculture, agricultural policy, integrated pest management, chemical ecology, and Entomology and has served as an expert witness in legal cases involving pollinators and pesticide impacts. He’s researched the chemical ecology of herbivorous insects for most of his career, but for the past eight years, he has concentrated on the effects of pesticides on honey bees with Chris Mullin, Insect Toxicologist, and Maryann Frazier, Senior Honeybee Extension Specialist at Penn State.

Dr. Frazier has published 75 research articles, book chapters, and reviews during his career. He presented an update on pesticides and bee health to the Senate Ag Committee (2013) and has served on several national-level policy bodies, including the USDA-APHIS-EPA National Stakeholder Conference on Bee Health (2011), the Pellston Conference on Pollinator Risk Assessment (2010), and was science advisor to the National Honey Bee Advisory Board from 2009-13.

Dr. Frazier received a DuPont Research Accomplishment Award (1984), was listed in American Men and Women of Science and Outstanding Scientists of the 21st Century, and received an Award from the Entomological Society of America for Exceptional Service as Chair of Strategic Planning (1996) and was President of the Entomological Foundation (1996-2001). He received the Friend of the Industry Award from the National Honey Producers Association (2014), the President’s Award, and the Hoopengarner Award from the National Beekeeping Federation (2015).

Dr. Frazier and his wife Maryann received the Founders Award from the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees in 2016. They reside at their home in State College, PA, and they have a daughter, three grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter in Vero Beach, FL.

Judy Wu-Smart, PhD

Dr. Judy Wu-Smart (Associate Professor & Extension Specialist) received her MS at Washington State University under the advisement of Drs. Steve Sheppard and Carol Anelli and a PhD from University of Minnesota with Dr. Marla Spivak. She has been the director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab since 2015. At UNL, she and her team have been developing a robust pollinator health program for the Midwest region to help beekeepers, scientists, policy makers, and land managers understand the underlying stressors challenging bee health, such as improper management of pests and diseases and exposure to pesticides. Community engagement and promoting science literacy around these complicated farm-to-table issues are also key components of our research and extension education programs. Learn more about UNL programs and training opportunities.  Or follow the bee lab on facebook!”

Gene Brandi

Gene has been working with honey bees for more than 50 years., He established his own beekeeping business in 1978, a mere 45 years ago!  He has been involved in quite a few industry organizations over the years and has now “retired” from most of them.  Below is a partial list of some of his more substantial involvement:

• California State Beekeepers Association – Past President – Board of Directors for 37 years
• California Honey Advisory Board – member 6 years – Chairman 4 years
• Founding Board member of Project Apis m. –  Served on Board for 10 years
• Affiliated with National Honey Board – 15 years –  Board Member 6 years – Chairman 2001-2004
• American Beekeeping Federation – Board of Directors – 15 years – President 2016-2017
• Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees – Trustee 10 years – Chairman 2020-present

Marla Spivak, PhD

Marla Spivak is a MacArthur Fellow and McKnight Distinguished Professor in Entomology at the University of Minnesota.  She obtained her Ph.D. in Entomology at the University of Kansas 1989 on the ecology and identification of Africanized honey bees in Costa Rica.  Her current research efforts focus on protecting and enhancing the health of honey bees through social immunity and bee breeding and on propagating floral rich landscapes to support all pollinators.

Scott McArt, PhD

Scott McArt is an Assistant Professor of pollinator health and helps run the Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He’s particularly interested in scientific research that can inform management decisions by beekeepers, farmers, regulatory agencies, and the public. Research in the McArt lab focuses on the impact of pesticides, pathogens, and management practices on the health of honey bees and wild pollinators.

Curtis Mraz

Curtis is a fourth-generation beekeeper and farmer. He manages Champlain Valley Apiaries, his family’s 90+ year-old honey and beekeeping business situated in Middlebury, Vermont.

Curtis holds a degree in Biology and Environmental Policy from the University of Puget Sound where he researched shortcomings in our U.S. agricultural education system. He is passionate about inspiring grassroots action and change, especially within our food system. Curtis has organized with the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC), and Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), and facilitated a BIPOC beekeeper training program in Western MA.

Curtis is familiar with the slew of obstacles faced by young farmers and beekeepers across the country and is determined to advocate on their behalf. When he doesn’t have his head in a beehive, Curtis is in the garden, with his family, or on a long hike.

Curtis’ role on the Advisory Council is to advocate for and communicate with key groups representing the next generation of young farmers and beekeepers. He also serves to identify, network with, and prioritize groups and initiatives led by historically marginalized groups; i.e. BIPOC or LGBTQ-run organizations.

Humberto Boncristiani, PhD

Inside The Hive Media & Consulting Inc.

Humberto Boncristiani is a Communication/Science Advisor at One Hive Foundation. In this role, he works directly with the Foundation’s leadership team to develop and implement its strategic plan. In his spare time, Dr. Boncristiani hosts the Inside The Hive TV YouTube channel, where he educates viewers about honey bee science and the importance of honey bees.

As a second-generation beekeeper and honey bee researcher, Dr. Boncristiani has accumulated extensive experience working in several prestigious research institutions, including the USDA, University of North Carolina in Greensboro, University of Maryland, and the University of Florida. He specializes in honey bee health research with an emphasis on honey bee virology.

Through Inside The Hive Media & Consulting Inc., Dr. Boncristiani helps companies entering the beekeeping industry with new products and beekeepers optimize their operations across the United States.

When he is not working on bee-related subjects, Dr. Boncristiani enjoys exercising, going for long hikes, biking, and cooking. He is also busy chasing his two daughters and helping them reach their life goals.

Gioia Perugini

Director of Philanthropic Services
Hemenway & Barnes LLP

Gioia serves as Philanthropic Advisor to the One Hive Foundation. In this role, she works collaboratively with the Foundation’s leadership team to develop and implement its strategic plan. She helps oversee the development of grant strategy, outreach to potential grantees, and cultivation of partnerships with nonprofits and other funders. She serves as a liaison to the legal, investment management, and grants administration services provided by Hemenway & Barnes. 

At Hemenway & Barnes, Gioia works with individuals, families, advisors, charitable trusts, and foundations to provide a range of philanthropic and family office services. Gioia’s practice also specializes in engaging multiple generations in family philanthropy. She’s a frequent speaker, writer, panelist, and blogger on issues relevant to philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. She’s active in her local community and in organizations and philanthropic networks across New England. She is President of the Board of the Brookline Community Foundation. She serves on the Board of the Maine Philanthropy Center and chairs its Governance Committee. Finally, she is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Positive Tracks, a public charity that helps young people make change through charitable athletic activity.

When not working in philanthropy and volunteering, she can be found hiking, biking, or cheering on her teenage children’s sports teams.

Samantha Alger, PhD

Samantha serves as Scientific Advisor to One Hive. In this role, she works collaboratively with the Philanthropic Advisor, Advisory Council and Founder to implement One Hive’s mission and strategic plan. She is part of the team working to launch the public roll-out of the foundation, develop the Foundation’s strategic plan, and define the Foundation’s philanthropic goals. 

Outside of One Hive, Samantha is a Research Assistant Professor in the Plant and Soil Science Department at the University of Vermont (UVM). Her research aims to improve the health of both managed and wild pollinators through research, education and outreach. At UVM, she conducts research on bee disease, teaches introductory beekeeping courses, and directs the Vermont Bee Lab, a lab that offers disease diagnostic services for Vermont beekeepers.

Charles Mraz

Charles is Chair of the One Hive Advisory Council One Hive Foundation.

A third-generation beekeeper, Charles is the owner of Champlain Valley Apiaries in Vermont. Charles is the former President of the Vermont Beekeepers Association and has provided expert testimony on a number of pollinator-related bills in Vermont.