GES doctoral student Nicko Tovar won the Best Student Paper Award at the November 2025 SEDAAG meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. The title of his paper was: Variation in Bus Transit Infrastructure Provision, Ridership, and Equity: Evidence from North Carolina. Congratulations Nicko!
The Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability congratulates all of its December 2025 graduates! The Masters degree commencement was held at the coliseum, and the doctoral hooding ceremony was held at the UNCG auditorium this year, a few minutes’ casual stroll from the Graham Building. Commencement weather was wonderful (clear… Continue reading…
We are sad to report the loss of GES family member and doctoral student John Shields. The department learned of John’s passing on October 20 from his father who had been in frequent contact over the prior month regarding his son’s illness. John had been part of the GES family… Continue reading…
Many students become experts of earth-saving habits by making sustainability their major, minor, bachelor’s, or graduate degree. “Our advanced topics include climate economics, sustainable buildings, food systems, and environmental humanities,” says Aaron Allen, Ph.D., director of the environment and sustainability program.
Dr. Bhuwan Thapa joined GES in Fall 2025 as an assistant professor in urban sustainability. His research focuses on nature-based solutions for climate risk management, urban climate resilience & adaptation, hyperlocal air pollution, geospatial analysis, agroforestry and urban food systems. Dr. Thapa received BS degrees in Environmental Science from St…. Continue reading…
It is with deep sadness we share that Dr. Sarah Praskievicz, an associate professor in UNC Greensboro’s Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability (GES), died on Aug. 11, 2025, at her home in Greensboro, following a valiant 15-month battle with cancer. Praskievicz taught and conducted research in the areas of hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and water resources. She was a consummate geographer, having visited all seven continents in her short 39 years. More importantly, she was a consummate human being and colleague, with a generous spirit, contagious (and loud!) laugh, and joie de vivre (joy of living) that brightened any room or outdoor space she entered.
Congratulations to Dr. Tyler Mitchell on receiving his PhD! Tyler’s dissertation, Radial growth responses of four southeastern USA pine species to precipitation event types, intense rainfall, and the North Atlantic Subtropical High, addresses the importance of rainfall delivery, particularly how intense events are critically important for tree growth and in what way… Continue reading…
Congratulations to Dr. Jay Lannartson for being promoted to Principal lecturer and to Mr. James Nelson for being promoted to Academic Professional Professor.
When Selima Sultana was a graduate student living in Atlanta, Georgia, she was excited about a potential new job until she faced a hurdle in the application process.
“When I was interviewed, they asked whether I had a car and I said I didn’t. They were very hesitant to hire me,” she says.
This conundrum became the crux of Sultana’s dissertation research. Now, as a professor and the associate department head in UNC Greensboro’s Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability, Dr. Sultana is a leader in transportation and urban research. She has published and authored over 50 peer-reviewed papers, two books, and another book under contract. In 2024, she was named a fellow of the American Association of Geographers – a prestigious recognition for select scholars who have made significant contributions to geography.
GES faculty and students attended the annual meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers (SEDAAG) in Norfolk, VA, on November 18-20, 2023. Avery Catherwood (Ph.D. student) received the John Fraser Hart Award for the best Ph.D. paper for “Increasing precipitation variability and climate growth responses of… Continue reading…
