LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville will name its Belknap Research Building after former UofL President John Shumaker. The university is planning a dedication ceremony and related events for Nov. 22-24.
Shumaker served as UofL鈥檚 President from 1995-2002. Under his leadership, the university set its Challenge for Excellence goals and its research and academic missions began a significant expansion.
鈥淚 have a great respect for John Shumaker and the job he did leading UofL,鈥 said current UofL President James Ramsey. Ramsey said he doesn鈥檛 believe Kentucky鈥檚 landmark higher education reforms of 1997 would have happened without the staunch support of Shumaker and UofL.
The process for naming a building for Shumaker began in 2008 when Ramsey suggested Shumaker deserved recognition for his leadership at UofL. Ramsey appointed a committee of faculty and staff members who recommended that a building on the Belknap campus be named after Shumaker. Ramsey agreed and contacted Shumaker to set a date for the ceremony, which Shumaker is expected to attend.
The was dedicated in 2006 and received several awards for its design and construction. It has more than 103,000 square feet of research and office space.