Ph.D. STUDENTs        current STUDENTS|  PH.D. alumni|

CURRENT STUDENTS

Yan Duan
Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York
Bachelor of Engineering in Urban Planning, Xi'an University of Technology
Hometown: Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Advisor: Rosanna Rivero
Research interests: Parks and green space, Big data and artificial intelligence, Spatial ecology
Starting year: Summer 2024

Mahboobeh Ansari
Master in Architectural Technology, University of Tehran
Bachelor in Architectural Technology, Yazd University
Advisor: Umit Yilmaz
Research interests: Historical preservation, Utilization of technologies based on sustainable approaches
Starting year: Spring 2024

Zaklina Grgic
MSc in Geography - Spatial Planning and Regional Development, University of Zagreb
BSc in Geography, University of Zagreb
Advisor: Sonia Hirt
Research interests: Housing, Urban geography, City planning
Starting year: Fall 2022

Hexiang Wang
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Washington
BFA in Envrionmental Design, Jiangnan University
Advisor: Rosanna Rivero
Research interests: Urban green space planning
Starting year: Fall 2022

Ruiqi Yang
Master of Landscape Architecture, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
BA, Hubei Institude of Fine Arts
Advisor: Jessica Fernandez
Research interests: Landscape Perception, Visual Quality, Data-driven design, Emerging technologies
Starting year: Summer 2022

Shirin Rezaeimalek
MS in Urban Design, Imam Khomeini International University
BS in Architectural Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University
Advisor: Jessica Fernandez
Research interests: Data-driven planning & design, People-place interaction, Natural language processing (NLP), Techiniques, Urban vibrancy
Starting year: Spring 2022

Sarah Zibanejadrad Beeson
MS in of  Environmental  Management, University of Maryland
MBA, University of Georgia
BA - Journalism, Georgia State University
Hometown: Roswell, Georgia, United States
Advisor: Sonia Hirt
Research interests: Land use, Low-income communities, Zoning, Infrastructure
Starting year: Fall 2021     sziba@uga.edu

Yulia Shaffer (Fadina)
M.S. in Sustainability Science, Lenoir-Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies
B.A. in Biology, University of Arkansas
B. Arch., Azerbaijan State Art Academy
Hometown: Baku, Azerbaijan
Advisor: Sonia Hirt
Research interests: Urban ecosystems, Regenerative design, Socio-ecological systems, Environmental planning 
Starting year: Fall 2021     Yulia.Fadina@uga.edu

Shweta Vardia
MS in Structural Analysis of  Historic Constructions  Czech Technical University, and University of Minho under Erasmus Mundus Program
BArch, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, India
Hometown: Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Advisor: Sonia Hirt
Research interests:Historic preservation, World heritage sites, Conservation
Starting year: Spring 2021     Shweta.Vardia@uga.edu

Jiyue Zhao
Master of Landscape Architecture, Southeast University
B.Eng. in Urban Planning and Design, Tianjin Chengjian University
Hometown: Lanzhou, Gansu, China
Advisor: Rosanna Rivero
Research interests: Urban morphology, Green infrastructure, Sustainable design 
Starting year: Fall 2019     jzhao@uga.edu

Jingxian 'Lily' Li 
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Edinburgh 
BA in Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University 
Hometown: Changsha, Hunan, China
Advisor: Eric MacDonald
Research interests: Landscape architecture, Cultural landscape, Historic gardens, Designed landscape
Starting year: Fall 2018     jl62691@uga.edu

Alyssa Combs
M.S. in Geosciences, Georgia State University
B.A. in Geography, Georgia State University
Advisor: Katherine Melcher
Research interests: 
Starting year: Fall 2017

Yi 'Thea' Cui
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Georgia
MS in Digital Cinema, DePaul University
BA in Animation, Tongji University
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Advisor: Umit Yilmaz
Research interests: Public spaces, Spatial configurations and human behaviors, Shrinking cities, Geospatial application and analysis
Starting year: Fall 2016

Weiye 'Nicole' Wang
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Georgia
BA in Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University
Hometown: Jiangsu, China
Advisor: Katherine Melcher
Research interests: Urban ecology, Cultural landscapes
Starting year: Fall 2016     weiyewang@uga.edu

Ph.d. alumni

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Marsha Anderson Bomar
MS Transportation Planning and Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn
MSE Civil Engineering, Princeton University
BS Math, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Advisor: Rosanna Rivero
Research interests:Transit, Transportation planning, Public policy
Starting year: Spring 2021
Graduated 2024 Marsha.Anderson.Bomar@uga.edu

Jungho Ahn
Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Master of Science in Urban Planning, Yonsei University
BA of Engineering, Yonsei University
Hometown: Gangneung, South Korea
Advisor: Steven Ramos
Research interests: City planning, Sustainability, Public transportation, Geospatial analysis
Starting year: Fall 2018
Graduated 2024 ja93771@uga.edu

Juncheng ‘Jase’ Lu
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Georgia
BA in Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University
Hometown: Chongqing, China
Advisor: Jon Calabria
Research interests: Urban sustainability, Sustainable planning and design, Urban design, Green infrastructure
Starting year: Fall 2018
Graduated 2024 lujc1107@uga.edu

Jill Thompson
MA in Public Administration, Valdosta State University
BA in Furnishings and Interiors, University of Georgia
Hometown: Madison, GA
Advisor: Danny Sniff
Research interests: Energy and environmental design, Sustainability, Campus planning, Healthy homes-Green building practices, Residential interior design
Starting year: Fall 2016
Graduated 2023  jillvau@uga.edu

Nasim Rezvanpour
Master of Science in Urban Design, University of Isfahan
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Azad University
Hometown: Ardebil, Iran
Advisor: Jack Crowley
Research interests: Urban design and policy, City management, Sustainable transportation, City branding/Marketing, City identity/image
Starting year: Fall 2018
Graduated 2022

Micah Taylor
MS in Geospatial Science, University of Redlands
BS in Environmental Science, University of Tennessee
Hometown: Chapel Hill, TN
Advisor: Brian Orland
Research interests: Visual communication, Emerging technology, Geospatial science, and Environmental psychology
Starting year: Fall 2017
Graduated 2022

Lynn Abdouni
Master of Landscape Management, Chatham, Pittsburgh, PA
BFA in Graphic Design, American University of Beirut
Hometown: Sultan Yaaqoub, Lebanon
Advisor: Rosanna Rivero
Research interests: the Pan-Arab highway, international transportation “complete corridors”, geospatial analysis for regional planning, aesthetic mapping.
Starting year: Fall 2016
Graduated 2022    abdouni@uga.edu  

Manasi Parkhi
Master of Urban Planning and Design, University of Georgia
BA of Architecture, University of Pune
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Advisor: Jack Crowley
Research interests: Public transportation, transit-oriented development, active living, walkable and transit friendly community design, mixed-use design.
Starting year: Fall 2016
Graduated 2022  manasip@uga.edu

Leslie Palacios
Master of Landscape Architecture, Virginia Tech
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Virginia Tech
Advisor: Dan Nadenicek
Research interests: Exploring the Relationship between Studio-Based Learning and Active Learning in the Landscape Architecture Design Studio.
Starting year: Fall 2016
Graduated 2020