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About Us
At The Beekeepers Academy, we empower beekeepers at every level. Whether you're starting your first hive or refining advanced skills, you're in the right place.​
Built on a shared passion for bees and a commitment to quality education, our Academy is a trusted home for learning, mentorship, and community.
Making Beekeeping Better
The Beekeepers Academy was founded to provide clear, dependable guidance for beekeepers at every level. Our mission is simple: help you solve challenges, build skill, and grow in a way that reflects your goals and values.
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Our Core Values
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Education First: Practical knowledge that strengthens confidence.
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Excellence: Trusted, high-quality mentorship and resources.
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Community: Connections that support every beekeeper’s journey.
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Sustainability: Practices that protect bees and their environment.
Meet Your Mentorship Team
We combine evidence-based methods with interactive online support to elevate your beekeeping journey.
Dr. Scott Debnam, co-owner of The Beekeepers Academy LLC, is a University of Montana Wildlife graduate, and has managed the research colonies for the University of Montana for over 25 years.
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He completed his Master's degree in Pollination Ecology in 2016 through the University of Montana's Organismal Biology, Ecology, & Evolution program and his Ph.D. in Insect Physiology from the Division of Biological Sciences in 2022.
His research focuses on nest thermoregulation and the economics associated with thermoregulation. He, of course, uses the honeybee as the model species for this research.
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Debnam is a Yale Scientific Teaching fellow who possesses extensive expertise with honey bee ailments and pests. He possesses an intimate knowledge of the insects that he is eager to pass on to others. As an educator, he developed the UMT Online Beekeeping program, teaching over 2,000 students globally and winning the UP award in 2019. He also teaches Practical Beekeeping at UMass Amherst.​
Tamila Morgan is co-owner of The Beekeepers Academy LLC, where she teaches beekeepers of all levels with a focus on queen breeding, small-scale rearing, and sustainable practices. She manages over 100 treatment-free colonies and partners with Dr. Scott Debnam on research into queen nutrition, weight, and breeding efficiencies.
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Tamila also owns Three Fat Queens LLC, a queen-breeding business devoted to hardy, regionally adapted genetics, and founded the Stilly Valley Bee Collective, a grassroots network supporting local beekeepers. She teaches with the University of Montana’s online program and holds Master’s and Commercial Beekeeping certifications from UMT.
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Tamila brings the precision and focus of her earlier career as a Flight Instructor and Commercial Pilot to her work with bees and students alike. She loves life on her small family farm, where she balances research, teaching, and the daily joys of the bee yard.
