Robert Schmitz named a 2026 UGA Distinguished Research Professor
March 27, 2026 — UGA Today Part of the same spring Honors Week announcement — recognized for developing genome-wide approaches to plant epigenomics.
C. Robin Buell named 2026 SEC Professor of the Year
March 24, 2026 — UGA Today The SEC's highest faculty honor, recognizing scholarly excellence in teaching, research and service. Buell is the fourth UGA faculty member to receive it.
Jill Anderson named a 2026 UGA Creative Research Medalist
March 27, 2026 — UGA Today Recognized for a decade-plus field study on how climate change affects genetic adaptation in a Rocky Mountain wildflower — work that's reshaped thinking on extinction risk and assisted migration.
Robert Schmitz elected to the National Academy of Sciences
April 29, 2026 — UGA Today / Department of Genetics Schmitz, professor in the Department of Genetics, was elected in recognition of his work on plant epigenomics — how DNA methylation shapes gene regulation in crops. This brings UGA's NAS membership to 19.