Associate director maintains collections and facilities for future researchers

Lori Schlenker | Associate Director of Collections and Facilities | Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum

Behind every museum collection is someone working to ensure the specimens, artifacts and records that researchers rely on remain accessible for generations. At the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, that responsibility falls to Lori Schlenker, associate director of collections and facilities.

Schlenker helps oversee more than 11 million biological specimens and 2 million archaeological artifacts while managing the buildings and research spaces that house them. Her work supports research in biological diversity, evolution, ecosystems and human history while safeguarding irreplaceable collections for future research.

Schlenker joined the Biodiversity Institute in 2003 and served in several roles before being named to her current position in 2024. Before coming to KU, she spent a decade working at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

“What makes Lori so good at her job is her attention to detail,” said Natalie Vondrak, communications coordinator for the Biodiversity Institute. “As registrar, she manages and formalizes the accession process, which documents the museum's legal acquisition of biological specimens or archaeological objects. Because our researchers collect from around the world, Lori has countless permits, regulations and international laws to track and consider when new specimens are added to the collection. Her incredible attention to detail helps protect the integrity of our collections while supporting the researchers who depend on them.”

The Biodiversity Institute’s collections and research spaces span eight buildings, some more than 125 years old, creating ongoing maintenance challenges. Colleagues say Schlenker brings the same attention to detail and stewardship to the institute’s facilities, ensuring they meet the needs of researchers, students and visitors.

“Lori is a creative problem solver. She is an exceptional record-keeper, and she navigates communication between groups effectively and reliably,” said Emily Ryan, director of The Commons, a multidisciplinary scholarly center located in a building Schlenker manages. “With limited funding support, she ensures that deferred maintenance challenges don't progress to emergency status, and she maintains standards of excellence that a museum collection warrants.”

More than 100 KU scientists and graduate students use the institute’s collections, and Schlenker’s work is essential to facilitating their research.

“Lori exemplifies what it means to live out an organization’s mission,” Vondrak said. “Her commitment to the ethical stewardship of our collections, ability to build meaningful relationships with the public and extensive knowledge of the museum’s history make her an invaluable resource to our team and a mentor to the next generation of museum professionals.”