Building on a long history of successful collaboration, Washington University in St. Louis and the Missouri Botanical Garden are welcoming two internationally recognized botanists who will have joint appointments with both research institutions.
Lúcia Lohmann, a botanist and conservationist known for her extensive research in the Amazonian rainforest, became president and director of the Missouri Botanical Garden Jan. 2. She will also be the George Engelmann Professor of Botany in the Department of Biology in Arts & Sciences.
Toby Pennington, a leader in the study of dry tropical forests, will be the inaugural David and Dorothy Kemper Professor in the Department of Biology, a joint appointment with the university and the garden. He starts Aug. 1.
“WashU and the Missouri Botanical Garden share a rich tradition of discovery in plant science, and the appointments of Lúcia and Toby underscore our commitment to that rewarding partnership,” said Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences. “The impacts of our continued collaboration will strengthen the academic and environmental ecosystems — in St. Louis and around the world — for generations to come.”