Rate My Professor Stuart Fullerton

Stuart Fullerton served as a research associate in the Department of Biology at the University of Central Florida, where he founded and curated the Stuart M. Fullerton Collection of Arthropods, affectionately known as the "Bug Closet." Established in 1993 when he relocated his personal collection to UCF at the invitation of Biology Department chair David Vickers, the collection has grown to over 500,000 mounted insect and arthropod specimens, with a primary focus on Central Florida species from the UCF campus and surrounding counties, supplemented by international specimens. Fullerton volunteered to teach entomology laboratory courses, mentored undergraduate biology students by recruiting them for collecting expeditions, and led efforts to digitize the collection, making it accessible worldwide as a key resource for entomological research on regional biodiversity.

A graduate of UCF, Fullerton developed his lifelong passion for insects during childhood and summer camps in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Following service in the United States Air Force, he held curatorial positions at museums in Boston, Montreal, San Antonio, and South Carolina, and served as curator of education at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, where he presented live insects and animals in educational programs and television appearances. Retiring from paid museum work in 1990, he continued his contributions to entomology at UCF without salary. His research interests centered on parasitic Hymenoptera, particularly wasps, and Florida's native bees. Fullerton co-authored publications such as "A New Prey Record for Temnochila virescens (Fabricius): Actenodes acornis (Say) (Coleoptera: Trogositidae, Buprestidae)" published in The Coleopterists Bulletin in 2007. Two species of arthropods have been named in his honor, recognizing his impact on the field. Additionally, he taught middle school science in Oviedo, Florida, fostering interest in nature among young students. Stuart Fullerton passed away on April 5, 2014, leaving a lasting legacy in arthropod collections and education.