Drawing from a rich legacy of effective partnership, Washington University in St. Louis and the Missouri Botanical Garden are welcoming two globally acknowledged botanists who will serve in dual roles at both research entities.
Lúcia Lohmann, a botanist and advocate for conservation recognized for her in-depth research in the Amazon rainforest, assumed the role of president and director of the Missouri Botanical Garden on January 2. She will additionally hold the title of George Engelmann Professor of Botany within the Department of Biology in Arts & Sciences.
Toby Pennington, a prominent figure in the exploration of dry tropical forests, will be the first David and Dorothy Kemper Professor in the Department of Biology, a collaborative position bridging the university and the garden. He begins his tenure on August 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,” remarked Feng Sheng Hu, the Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences. “The benefits of our ongoing collaboration will bolster the academic and environmental landscapes — both in St. Louis and globally — for future generations.”
About Lohmann
For Lohmann, this new position represents a sort of homecoming. She obtained her master’s and doctoral degrees in ecology, evolution, and systematics from the University of Missouri-St. Louis before serving as a postdoctoral fellow at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development. Prior to this, she was on the faculty at the University of São Paulo and later directed the University and Jepson Herbaria at the University of California, Berkeley, also teaching in the Department of Integrative Biology.
Lohmann integrates research with conservation to investigate and safeguard the plant diversity of tropical Latin America, encompassing the rainforests of Brazil. She is the eighth president of the Missouri Botanical Garden and the first female to attain this role.
“Departing from Berkeley was challenging, but I viewed this as an opportunity to help craft the future of botany and mentor the next generation of global leaders,” Lohmann stated. “The garden is well known for its initiatives across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Researchers from around the planet come here to study plants in the herbarium. I already had relationships within the St. Louis community and held significant respect for WashU, making this both a personal and career-oriented choice.”
“We are extremely fortunate to welcome Lúcia as the new president of the garden,” said Gunter Fischer, the Missouri Botanical Garden’s senior vice president of science and conservation. “She will further enhance our strengths and elevate our international presence.”
About Pennington
Currently serving as a professor of tropical plant diversity and biogeography at the University of Exeter and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in the U.K., Pennington focuses on identifying, classifying, and conserving species flourishing in the expansive areas of the tropics that lack sufficient moisture for rainforests. He is widely recognized for his contributions in Central and South America.
“The Missouri Botanical Garden boasts the largest collection of plants from Latin America and has a cadre of world-class staff dedicated to that field,” Pennington commented. “I will have the opportunity to advance my research with this remarkable resource at my disposal. I also look forward to collaborating with the exceptional WashU faculty within the Department of Biology and beyond.”
Fischer noted Pennington’s reputation in plant systematics, which involves investigating the evolutionary relationships among plants. “He’s an ideal match for the garden, which has established a solid foundation of systematics research in recent decades,” he remarked.
Both Lohmann and Pennington will actively participate in the Living Earth Collaborative, a partnership involving WashU, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Saint Louis Zoo. A key component of the Arts & Sciences strategic plan, this consortium aims to protect and enhance biodiversity globally.
“Thanks to the combined prestige of the Missouri Botanical Garden and WashU, we received applications from outstanding individuals across leading institutions worldwide,” stated Jonathan B. Losos, the William H. Danforth Distinguished University Professor in Arts & Sciences and co-director of the Living Earth Collaborative. “From the outset, Toby was a frontrunner among the candidates. The fact that we could bring him here is immensely thrilling.”
“The recruitment of two globally esteemed botanists reflects the international standing of both the Missouri Botanical Garden and Washington University in St. Louis,” commented Michael Stern, chairman of the garden’s board of trustees. “Both Dr. Lohmann and Dr. Pennington are distinguished scientists with remarkable accomplishments in research and conservation. These appointments will continue to enhance St. Louis’s global stature and solidify its role as a center for tropical botany.”
As a part of her joint appointment at WashU, Lohmann will assume the George Engelmann Professorship, a role created in 1885 by Henry Shaw, the founder of the garden. This professorship has traditionally been held by the director of the Missouri Botanical Garden and pays tribute to the legacy of George Engelmann, a physician and botanist.
Engelmann was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States via Belleville, Ill., in 1833. He relocated to St. Louis two years later, establishing a thriving medical practice. He dedicated much of his time to gathering, describing, and systematizing the flora of the American West. From 1856 until his passing in 1884, Engelmann served as a faculty member at WashU and played a vital advisory role to Shaw, who converted his estate into a botanical garden. A globally respected scientist, Engelmann was also a founding member of the National Academy of Sciences. Presently, three plant genera and several species are named in his honor.
Kemper Professorship
Pennington will assume the David and Dorothy Kemper Professorship within the biology department. This prestigious position, established through a generous commitment from Distinguished Trustee David Kemper and his spouse, Dorothy, alongside the William T. Kemper Foundation, was created to assist WashU in attracting a globally recognized scholar with profound expertise in plant science, biodiversity, and sustainability.
David Kemper, executive chairman of Commerce Bancshares and Commerce Bank in St. Louis, is a passionate supporter of both the university and the garden. For over 35 years, he has provided leadership to both organizations as a board member and chair.
“We are delighted to welcome Toby Pennington,” David Kemper remarked. “His unparalleled expertise and enthusiasm will strategically position both the university and the garden as they address pressing global issues such as climate change.”
This professorship marks a new chapter in the Kempers’ philanthropic journey at WashU. Along with David’s father, James M. Kemper Jr., and the William T. Kemper Foundation, the couple made a $5 million contribution in 2004 to rename the Washington University Gallery of Art. The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, honoring David’s mother, was inaugurated in a new Fumihiko Maki-designed building in 2006. Since then, the Kempers and their family foundation have continued to support the museum, part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, with contributions to endow the William T. Kemper Directorship, establish the James M. Kemper Gallery, and fund new acquisitions.
The Kempers have also provided support to WashU Libraries, the School of Medicine, and the Danforth Scholars Program. In 2022, the couple was awarded the Robert S. Brookings Award for their extraordinary commitment to WashU. Additionally, in 2023, the entire Kemper family received the Dean’s Medal from the Sam Fox School.
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