BHSU names Kathryn Johnson Life Sciences Building in honor of alum

Black Hills State University honored Dr. Kathryn Johnson, a 1975 graduate of the University, by naming the Life Sciences Building on campus in her honor this spring.  

During the naming ceremony, Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr., President of BHSU, remarked that Johnson represented “the absolute best of the University.”

In her remarks, Johnson noted the significant growth in science majors at BHSU and recalled the day the state legislature decided to update science facilities on all state campuses.

“Look at this wonderful facility. I feel connected to this building. It’s the faculty, the people here at BHSU that are making it all come together,” said Johnson.

Johnson, an entrepreneur, former president of the S.D. Board of Regents, and leader in the STEM fields, earned degrees in chemistry and math from BHSU. She earned her Ph.D. and has served as an environmental consultant for 30 years. She was also selected as representative on the U.S. Congressional Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology.

BHSU’s Kathryn Johnson Life Sciences Laboratory officially opened in 2011 providing space for classrooms, five teaching labs, three research labs, two conference rooms and faculty offices to meet the needs of students pursuing science degrees at BHSU. The building also houses the Center for the Conservation of Biological Resources (CCBR), a nationally recognized DNA lab. BHSU’s proximity to Sanford Lab creates opportunities for collaborative projects in the sciences.

Video: Kathryn Johnson Life Sciences Laboratory Naming