Claudia is a native of Chicago but has lived in Louisiana for the last 15 years. She earned an undergraduate degree at Purdue University, a Master’s at the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida. After graduating, she was hired by Dow AgroSciences then moved to Louisiana. In February 2004, she decided to focus on Formosan subterranean termites and became Principal Research Entomologist for the City of New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board. In 2006, she became Assistant Director, and in 2010 she was promoted to Director of the department. As director, she provides technical support for the City of New Orleans and the pest control industry. She conducts independent research and collaborates with the pest control industry to enhance existing products and test of new products. She also collaborates with government organizations and universities on a variety of research projects involving rodents, mosquitoes, termites and a variety of other urban pests.

Claudia provides information about termites, mosquitoes, rodents and pest issues after natural disasters to pest control professionals and the public. She leads three academies (termite, pest, and mosquito) for the City of New Orleans. She participates in several professional societies at the national and local level. Claudia enjoys traveling and speaking at pest control and public health meetings around the country.