UGA College of Environment and Design

We can't believe we're already a month into summer!

While we wait for those on summer break to return, we're reading this featured piece from the 2026 Georgia Landscape Magazine and dreaming of the day when studios are back in full swing. Read online at https://loom.ly/ww0wcds.

Story by Jordan Knight, illustrations by Paige Garvin.

This spring, PhD candidate Shweta Vardia completed a two-week research residency at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles through the Getty Library Research Grant. The grant gave Vardia unparalleled access to collections in the Getty Library, one of the the world's most comprehensive art historical research libraries.

Swipe to read more about Vardia's experience at the Getty Research Center.

🗺️From coast to coast, the CED alumni network continues to grow stronger!

Over the past week, we were excited to connect with alumni and friends at two special gatherings—one in Raleigh during the SERC conference and another in Seattle as part of our West Coast Field Trip. These events provided wonderful opportunities to reconnect, share updates from the CED, and celebrate the impact our alumni are making in communities across the country.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared stories, and strengthened the connections that make the CED community so special. We loved seeing familiar faces, meeting new ones, and bringing a little bit of Athens to both coasts.

We look forward to seeing you at a future CED event!

Looking for a beach read? We have the magazine for you!

Check out this featured story from the Georgia Landscape Magazine's latest edition. Who knows– you just might learn to love bricks a little more!

Story by Charles Rule and illustrations by Annie Barker. Read online at https://loom.ly/0_XlCXc.

Over the past two years, severe weather events have gradually removed five canopy trees in the Founders Memorial Garden's North Arboretum, leaving room for new planting possibilities.

This spring, MLA students in Professor Brad Davis' LAND 6450 Plants for Temperate Landscapes Class designed new possibilities for the North Arbor, blending new with old in seamless designs. Working in the same space, each design is unique in its style, plantings and character. Swipe to see some of the projects, and get a taste of how the FMG is used as a living classroom for CED students.

Want to support the Founders Memorial Garden? Give to the garden at https://loom.ly/6t4Vv4I.

Graduate Spotlight! This spring, recent graduate Kade Godwin, BLA '26, participated in his third National Collegiate Landscape Competition at Michigan State University. This year, at the competition's 50th anniversary, Godwin placed 24th overall out of 726 students, and brought home 2nd place in Interior Landscape Design. Godwin also competed in 2024 in Utah, and 2025 in Colorado.

"There are several Landscape Architecture-specific events that I would absolutely recommend to CED students to showcase their skills," said Godwin. "I’d also highly encourage CED students to compete in as many other competitive events as possible, as it will only bolster the knowledge and skills that can be taken into the design field."

Congratulations Kade!

The College of Environment and Design is pleased to share that two faculty members have received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Awards for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. Sonia Hirt, Dean and Hughes Professor in Landscape Architecture and Planning, has received a U.S. Scholar Award to Bulgaria. Katherine Melcher, Castro Professor, has received a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award in design to Brazil.

Join us in congratulating them on this accomplishment, and read more about their awards at https://loom.ly/E92OFSk

Ring the Bell! You're a CED alum!

Class of 2026, we had the best time celebrating you at CED Convocation last week. While we will miss you dearly, we know you will continue to do great things.

View the full convocation photo gallery at https://loom.ly/quM2PmU.