Jon Calabria
Professor
Jon Calabria, a licensed landscape architect, educates students at The University of Georgia’s College of Environment & Design to conserve and restore enduring landscapes that improve environmental quality within the human context. Dr. Calabria’s research includes landscape performance and the amelioration of land use impacts on freshwater and coastal systems.
Academic Positions
- 2023 – Present: Full Professor, College of Environment and Design, University of Georgia.
- 2016 – 2023: Associate Professor, College of Environment and Design, University of Georgia.
- August 2010 – 2016: Assistant Professor, College of Environment and Design, University of Georgia. Tenure track teaching appointment to serve undergraduate and graduate students in landscape architecture, environmental planning, and historic preservation disciplines. Courses, studio and service-learning focus on green infrastructure, low impact development, construction methods and professional practice.
- March 2001 – August 2010: Biological and Agricultural Engineering Extension Associate, North Carolina State University and Upper French Broad Watershed Training Center Coordinator.
Professional Experience
Full Professor, College of Environment and Design, University of Georgia. Instruction, research and service with focus on resilience, ecological restoration, green infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
Biological and Agricultural Engineering Extension Associate, North Carolina State University and Upper French Broad Watershed Training Center Coordinator. Implemented and monitored many demonstration projects as part of educational outreach program.
Landscape Architect in Private Practice. Consulted with public and private clients who commissioned conservation, preservation, restoration, mitigation, greenway, resort development and water quality amelioration projects.
Professional Licenses
Licensed Landscape Architect: Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina
Professional Affiliations
American Society of Landscape Architects
American Ecological Engineering Society
Georgia Board of Landscape Architects
Education
- PhD, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, 2010, Clemson University Dissertation: Predicting Effects of Imperviousness on Family Biotic Index Values in the Southern Appalachian Headwaters and Resulting Extension Education
- Masters of Landscape Architecture, 2007, Clemson University Terminal Project: Informing Riparian Area Design with Visual Preference Data for Increased Human Acceptance and Riparian Corridor Master Plan
- Bachelors of Landscape Architecture, 1992, University of Georgia
Awards & Recognition
- Dr. Jon Calabria was awarded a UGA Creative Teaching Award for 2016.
- Honor Award in Analysis and Planning, Daylighting Greenville Branch, American Society of Landscape Architects Georgia Chapter (October 24, 2014).
- Faculty Mentor for Student Collaboration Honor Award, Longleaf Pine Conversion at Wormsloe Plantation, American Society of Landscape Architects Georgia Chapter (October 24, 2014).
- Merit Award in Communication, Demonstrating Low Impact Development Techniques and Practices at the North Carolina Arboretum, American Society of Landscape Architects North Carolina Chapter (October 22, 2010).
- Merit Award in Communication, Low Impact Development Education Resources for North Carolina’s Citizens, American Society of Landscape Architects North Carolina Chapter (October 22, 2010).
- Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award for Sustainability, American Planning Association North Carolina Chapter (September 30, 2010).
- Landscape Architecture Foundation 2018 Case Study Investigation (CSI) Research Fellow
- Public Service and Outreach Marine Extension Fellow (2017)
- Certified Ecological Designer 2014 (#011), American Ecological Engineering Society (August, 2014)
- Thinking Like a River Fellow 2013, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC (November 2013)
Publications
Recent Journal Articles
- Lu, J., Calabria, J., & Hawkins, G. L. (2024). Exploring potential mechanisms linking urban landscapes to instream stressors and macroinvertebrates in the Southeast Piedmont: Implications for watershed management. Ecological Indicators, 163, 112114.
- Dunlap, S., Davis, B., & Calabria, J. (2022). Hypernatural Piedmont prairies: a screening process for optimum placement. Native Plants Journal, 23(3), 324-336.
- Calabria, J., Bruton, J., Pike, J., Brown, B., Post, C., Sharp, J., . . . Spooner, J. (2022). Effect of curve numbers on family benthic index in headwater streams in western North Carolina, USA. Environmental Challenges, 7, 100521.
- Suedel, B. C., Calabria, J., Bilskie, M. V., Byers, J. E., Broich, K., McKay, S. K., . . . Dolatowski, E. (2022). Engineering coastal structures to centrally embrace biodiversity. Journal of Environmental Management, 323, 116138.
- Cavalcante, G., Hawkins, G., Tollner, E., & Calabria, J. (2022). Modeling Hydraulic Performance of a Bioretention Basin Using Tracer Dyes. Environmental Connection (Second Quarter).
