Cailin Kessen

Cailin Kessen is a 2024-2025 Self Memorial Scholar pursuing a PhD in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. She holds a B.S. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Spanish from the University of Kansas. As an undergraduate, Cailin was a member of the University Honors Program and a Bioscholar. She served as treasurer of TriBeta and volunteered with the KU Student Gardeners. Cailin also conducted research in Dr. Jamie Walters’ lab, studying sex-biased longevity in Lepidoptera, the insect order of butterflies and moths. In the future, Cailin aims to be a conservation entomologist, conducting research and implementing methods to support endangered insects.