It symbolizes the entryway to collaboration. The reception area of the renowned International Center for Tropical Botany (ICTB) at the Kampong has a new name. The Dr. Richard M. Krasno foyer is named for the visionary championing this partnership among FIU, the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust.
“It was Richard Krasno’s insight that initiated this productive partnership,” said Christopher Baraloto, director of the ICTB. “As people enter the ICTB, we want them to recognize that contribution.”
During his tenure as Executive Director of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, Dr. Krasno had the foresight to recognize the synergies between the missions of the National Tropical Botanic Garden, which is headquartered on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, and Florida International University. He championed the development of research and education programs and the construction of the ICTB building, which was supported by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust. “Krasno recognized the importance of the ICTB in serving as a resource and information center. He had a vision for a partnership that allows us to protect plants and support communities around the world,” said Baraloto.
In honor of Dr. Krasno, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust made a generous gift of $250,000 to support the naming of the reception area after the former executive director, recognizing his exceptional ability to form innovative partnerships. The ICTB at The Kampong is destined to be a world-class facility, serving as a global hub for tropical plant resources, biodiscovery, and environmental stewardship. The Dr. Richard Krasno Foyer is the welcoming space for researchers, scientists, students, and the community at large.
The Krasno Foyer boasts a soaring open ceiling and provides access to first-floor research spaces, as well as offices and classrooms on the second floor. A plaque commemorating Dr. Krasno is prominently displayed in a central location, visible to visitors as they enter the foyer. FIU’S ICTB is a leading collaborative center for scientific exploration, education, and conservation of the world’s tropical plants and their habitats. Plants provide food, fiber, fuel, shelter, and medicine; as such, they are essential to the well-being, health, and livelihood of humankind. Balancing the demands for plant resources by a growing human population represents a major contemporary challenge and a core mission responsibility for the ICTB at the Kampong. Through its partnership with NTBG, ICTB serves as a training ground for future scientists who will lead the global effort to understand and manage tropical plant resources.