Dr. Hankins majored in Russian Area Studies and minored in Geography at Dartmouth College, received her Master’s degree in Geography from The University of Arizona, and completed her PhD in Geography at The University of Georgia. Prior to her arrival at Georgia State University, she held a two-year teaching position at The University of Georgia.
She was the very first new hire upon the creation of the Geosciences department, and has been a major contributor to both our department and the University since 2006. Dr. Hankins has advised more than 20 graduate students that have gone on to doctoral studies, government, and private consulting work.
Dr. Hankins is an urban geographer whose research focuses on urban change at the neighborhood scale. She is currently involved in research with over $200,000 in annual funding. Her research focuses on how high poverty suburban residents respond to large government transportation infrastructure projects and international research on how urban migrants secure housing in Hong Kong, Pretoria, and Atlanta.
Finally, Dr. Hankins has a truly interdisciplinary approach to teaching. She teaches classes involving Human, Economic, and Urban geography, as well as Urban Planning. Her approach of applied science is very effective in helping students make a difference in their world and career.
We welcome Katherine and feel confident that she will continue to lead us well in this time of enormous growth in our department.