Rate My Professor Joseph McHugh

Joseph V. McHugh is the Herbert H. and Jean A. Ross Memorial Distinguished Professor of Insect Systematics and Evolutionary Biology in the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He serves as Curator of the Collection of Arthropods at the Georgia Museum of Natural History, the official state repository for insects and other non-marine arthropods. McHugh earned a bachelor’s degree in entomology from Cornell University, a master’s degree in evolutionary biology from the University of Connecticut, and a doctorate in insect systematics from Cornell University. He joined the University of Georgia faculty in 1995, drawn by its strong entomology program and natural history collections.

McHugh leads the McHugh Lab, focusing on the systematics of Coleoptera (beetles), which comprise one in every four known animal species. His research encompasses the discovery, description, phylogenetic analysis, classification, inventory, and curation of beetle species, particularly within two superfamilies including 40 families and approximately 19,000 species. He teaches college-level courses such as insect taxonomy and principles of systematics, has served as the primary advisor for 12 graduate students, sat on advisory committees for 35 additional students, and mentored undergraduate laboratory interns. In recognition of his teaching excellence, McHugh received the 2008 D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 2007 national Entomological Society of America Distinguished Teaching Award, the 2006 Southeastern Branch Entomological Society of America Distinguished Teaching Award, multiple H.H. Ross Outstanding Teaching Awards, and three H.O. Lund Outstanding Faculty Awards. He was named the inaugural holder of his distinguished professorship in 2024 for his leadership in insect systematics and evolutionary biology. Key publications include Robertson et al., 'Phylogeny and classification of Cucujoidea and the recognition of a new superfamily Coccinelloidea (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia)' (Systematic Entomology, 2015); McKenna et al., 'Tree of Life for Beetles (Coleoptera)' (Systematic Entomology, 2015); and McElrath et al., 'A molecular phylogenetic study of Cucujidae sensu lato (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)' (Systematic Entomology, 2015). Dozens of his former lab members hold positions in entomology worldwide.