The University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology recognized ten graduates at its fall 2019 convocation ceremony on Dec. 13 in Athens. Dean John L. Gittleman welcomed families and introduced the new alumni. The ceremony was preceded by a reception for graduates, their families and colleagues.

Receiving doctoral degrees in integrative conservation and ecology were Shannon Bonney Baumgardner (dissertation: Transboundary river basin organizations for effective water management); Jessica C. Chappell (dissertation: Identifying tradeoffs between riverine connectivity and municipal water supply in Puerto Rico) and Sara E. Heisel (dissertation: Ecological, genetic, and social factors impacting wildlife conservation).

Matthew D. Hale (dissertation: American alligators: Integrative wildlife models to explore the developmental origins of health and disease in the environment), Ania A. Majewska (dissertation: Effects of pollinator-friendly gardens on butterfly population biology and host-parasite dynamics) and Cecilia A. Sánchez (dissertation: Effects of urban landscapes on wildlife behavior, health, and disease: Australian flying foxes as a case study) were awarded doctoral degrees in ecology.

Dana Carpenter (thesis: Long-term fire exclusion weakens the resistance of fire-adapted southern Appalachian forests to wildfire) received a master of science degree in ecology.

Three students received bachelor of arts degrees in ecology: Mikala D. Newsom of Buford, cum laude, with a minor in environmental economics and management and a certificate in sustainability; Alexandria G. Still of Duluth; and Alexander W. Vencill of Athens, cum laude, with a bachelor of arts degree in geography and a certificate in geographic information science.