Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Riggins received B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Arkansas. His research investigates non-native forest insect invasions, plant-insect-fungus interactions and their influences on landscape scale ecosystem processes such as carbon and nutrient cycles, disturbance ecology of forest insects, and integrated forest pest management practices. His research program integrates forest entomology and pathology, geospatial sciences, eco-physiology, applied science, and ecosystem ecology to better understand the ecology of native and introduced forest insects.