Feb. 22, 2021
Contact: Austin Fitzgerald, 573-882-6217, fitzgeraldac@missouri.edu
WHAT: A newly renovated lab in the University of Missouri’s Agriculture Building will be officially named the Henry Kirklin Plant Sciences Learning Laboratory. The dedication ceremony, which will be open to media and the public via a live Zoom webinar, will be held in honor of Henry Kirklin, born into slavery in 1858 and believed to be the first Black teacher to teach at MU. The state-of-the-art learning laboratory will be used by students in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Plant Sciences program for hands-on education, much as Kirklin’s classes did.
The ceremony will also feature a special surprise announcement.
WHEN: 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24
WHERE: Media and the public can attend the Zoom webinar from this page at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
WHO: Descendants of Henry Kirklin will be in virtual attendance via Zoom. Speakers will include:
- Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri
- Christopher Daubert, vice chancellor and dean of CAFNR
- Bryan Garton, senior associate dean and director of academic programs for CAFNR
- Chris Campbell, executive director of the Boone County Historical Society
Editor’s note: To schedule an interview with one of the speakers, please contact Austin Fitzgerald at 573-882-6217 or fitzgeraldac@missouri.edu.
