Abstract: Dr. William Walton was a founding co-director of the Pacific Southwest Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, known as PacVec. Dr. Walton was a critical driving force in the formation of PacVec, and the center is a natural extension of his long history of research, training, and service alongside colleagues in mosquito control. Throughout his career, Dr. Walton was dedicated to inspiring and training the next generation of public-health entomologists. His professionalism and ability to work well with a wide range of people made him an effective leader in AMCA, PacVec, and his own department at the University of California, Riverside. It is a testament to his abilities as a mentor that many of his past trainees still work in mosquito control or public health today. This presentation will consider Dr. Walton’s role in PacVec and other efforts that continue to create exciting opportunities for early-career professionals in mosquito control and public health-related research.
