Jan. 11, 2019
Athens, Ga. – John Wares, associate professor in genetics and ecology, has received a 2019 Sandy Beaver Excellence in Teaching Award. These awards recognize outstanding faculty in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences who have shown a sustained commitment to high-quality instruction, particularly those engaged in undergraduate teaching.

The awards are given in honor of educator Sandy Beaver, a standout athlete at UGA who graduated in 1903 and later served on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. 

Wares studies gene flow and molecular ecology in natural populations, with a particular interest in examining the effects of asymmetric dispersal on population diversity and persistence. Most of his work focuses on marine species, as he seeks to improve our understanding of how physical and environmental forces lead to the balance of diversity in coastal communities. In recent years, he has been teaching organismal biology for non-majors at UGA with a focus on how biodiversity can respond to climate change.