News Archive - 2026

Kathy Osei in graphic
Who Is most exposed? Franklin Ph.D. student Kathy Osei maps extreme heat and the future of cities

It is a question that began taking shape long before her doctoral work, rooted in her experience growing up in Ghana, where access to infrastructure and basic services can vary widely from one community to the next. Now a Ph.D. student in geography at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Osei studies how cities create “heat islands” and how people experience them. Her work focuses on urban heat exposure, the communities most affected,…

Justin in gray and red frame
2026 Franklin Ph.D. candidate explores mutations to build a more secure food future

Growing up in Sartell, Minnesota, Franklin Ph.D. candidate Justin Scherer developed an early appreciation for the natural world, shaped by his close-knit community and the surrounding landscape. What began as curiosity grew into a commitment to understanding how living systems work and how that knowledge can help address real-world challenges. After earning his B.S. in plant biology from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2021, Scherer will…

Riley Thoen in front of tree
Ph.D. candidate Riley Thoen turns fieldwork into a mission to protect native species

Riley Thoen grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, in a family shaped by rural roots. Both parents were raised in farm country before choosing a more urban life. Thoen found a way to bridge those worlds, returning often to rural landscapes through fieldwork in plant ecology. “I was fascinated by the plant diversity in rural areas,” Thoen says. “But seeing those landscapes fragmented by agriculture sparked my interest in…

Timothy Yang
Franklin history professor Timothy Yang unearths hidden histories

For Timothy Yang, history isn’t just about the past. It’s also key to understanding how the world came to be. As an associate professor at the University of Georgia’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Yang approaches his research using a “microhistory” perspective, using one event or case study to demonstrate larger themes and global impact. On the surface, his research focuses on Asian history and the role of commodities like food and…

Robert Schmitz and Gerald Hart
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences scientists earn election to National Academy of Sciences

Two scientists from Franklin College of Arts and Sciences have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honors awarded to researchers in the United States. With the 2026 election, Franklin has had 13 faculty members, including past and emeritus faculty, elected to the academy. Robert Schmitz, professor in the Department of Genetics, and Gerald Hart, emeritus professor and Georgia Research…

summer in front of plants
First-generation Franklin Ph.D. candidate extends family legacy in plant science

In Covina, California, just outside Los Angeles, education shaped Summer Blanco’s family for generations. Her great-grandfather earned a bachelor’s degree in 1940, followed by her grandmother, mother, and siblings. Raised by a Tejano mother who works in payroll processing and a Nicaraguan father employed by a major airline, Blanco grew up in a household where college was expected. Graduate school had not yet been part of that path. Now, as a Ph.…

Felix Olschofka headshot
New leadership named for Hugh Hodgson School of Music

Felix Olschofka has been named director of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, effective August 1, 2026. He brings more than two decades of experience in higher education, along with a record of leadership that supports students, faculty, and innovative program development. Olschofka currently serves as director of the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Franklin College…

Emily Bremers in front of sign
Ph.D. candidate Emily Bremers pairs global health research with education

Emily Bremers grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, in a household where education shaped daily life. Both of her parents worked full time and also taught courses at a local community college. Their example set expectations early. “Education mattered, and it carried real weight,” Bremers says. When she considered graduate school, her mother reminded her she was fortunate to be paid to keep learning. That idea stayed with her and shaped her approach to her…

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