Lee Bess, Ph.D.

Lee Bess (they/them) holds a PhD in insect biology from the University of Illinois and an MS in plant biology from the University of Missouri.

Originally from the Midwest, Lee has traveled the world studying plants and insects, and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.

During their 20-year career in science, Lee has worked as university faculty, as an entomologist for the federal government, and for private companies that want to grow or control insects. They have taught students from preschool through graduate school, and enjoy integrating teaching and discovery into every role they take on. 

 

A nature lover and a farm kid at heart, Lee spends as much time as they can outdoors.

Lee also believes strongly in community building, and has volunteered for many 2SLGBTQIA+ groups, including the Gender Affirming Spaces Project (Peterborough, Ontario), Lambert House (Seattle), and Growing American Youth (St Louis). They love to create fun events for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, prioritizing the needs of neurodivergent members of their gender-diverse community.