Stafford Greenhouse Dedication

Tom Arnold, associate professor of biology, leads a tour of the Inge. P Stafford Greenhouse for Teaching and Research during the building's dedication.

The college officially celebrated the opening of the Inge P. Stafford Greenhouse for Teaching and Research at Kaufman Hall during a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, Sept. 21. The occasion served as an opportunity to highlight the facility's transformational impact and acknowledge the generosity of Jack Stafford '59 and his late wife, Inge, whose gift made the facility possible.

"We celebrate an extraordinary life of generosity and service by Inge and her partner of more than half a century, Jack," said President Nancy Roseman. "I also know how much it means to Jack that his family and so many friends have gathered this day to salute this amazing woman. You are drawn here today because Inge’s life was one of accomplishment and commitment to others: her family, her friends, her students and patients, her community and her college."

Though the greenhouse's doors have been open for several months, Stafford marked the dedication with an official ribbon cutting, accompanied by his daughters and President Roseman.

Associate Professor of Biology Tom Arnold, who's leading one of at least seven research projects  launched at the greenhouse since it opened, also addressed the crowd and noted how the facility marks the culmination of a decade of enhancements in the sciences at Dickinson.

“The modern, flexible Inge P. Stafford Greenhouse facility is the crown jewel of this decade-long transformation," said Arnold. "It has 21st century written all over it. ... The future challenges our students will face in a world of 8 billion people are not challenges that they can prepare for sitting in a university classroom or taking massive open online courses. They need proper space for active, collaborative learning."

The event gave audience members a chance to experience that space's educational power firsthand as Arnold, Associate Professor of Biology Carol Loeffler, and Master Gardener Ann Dailey led tours of the facility. In addition to providing a general-use greenhouse area, the state-of-the-art building boasts three independent research zones, a classroom-lab, a preparation potting area and a climate-controlled laboratory.

Published September 24, 2013