FMU Board of Trustees Meets, Names Facility for Longtime Faculty Member

The Francis Marion University Board of Trustees held its quarterly meeting Thursday at The Cottage on FMU’s main campus. During the meeting, the Trustees approved the naming of a facility in the FMU Performing Arts Center in memory of a longtime faculty member.
The D. Keith Best Black Box Theatre, located inside the FMU Performing Arts Center in downtown Florence, is named for longtime FMU Professor D. Keith Best. Best served on the faculty in the FMU Department of Fine Arts for 32 years. During this time, he served in various positions across the university, including service as chair of the Department of Fine Arts, associate provost, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, chair of the faculty, and secretary of the faculty.
Throughout his career, Best shaped the lives of thousands of students through his teaching and mentoring. He was an important part of state and regional arts organizations through his leadership, advocacy for the arts, and support for other actors and the theatre profession.
“Keith was close to everyone on campus. There were simply no strangers in his life,” said FMU President Fred Carter. “He earned every conceivable award available to faculty, and we all took pride in celebrating each achievement. His dignity, charm, and generosity won him accolades throughout the state, but being a trusted colleague and a good friend were the attributes he valued the most.”
“We can never replace a Keith Best, but we can be appreciative of the years he spent here. We can also savor all of the memories he left our students, faculty, and staff.”
Trustees also approved a resolution authorizing the use of funds to develop two pedestrian crosswalks across Highway 327 to connect FMU’s main campus with the west campus. The west campus includes the Griffin Athletic Complex, FMU Education Foundation Building, and the under-construction Forestry and Environmental Sciences Building, as well as the Pee Dee Field Office of the Department of Natural Resources and the Pee Dee Regional Office for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The crosswalks will provide a safer passage for students, faculty, and staff traveling between the two areas of campus.
During his remarks, Carter also indicated that the FMU Education Foundation is considering the purchase of approximately 21 acres of land at the Wildsumaco Biological Station in Ecuador to complement the environmental science programs already there and provide space for additional facilities. Wildsumaco, a unique teaching and research lab, is located in the Ecuadorian Andes. It is one of the University’s most popular and successful study abroad programs.
Carter concluded his remarks by announcing the individuals who will receive honorary degrees and deliver commencement addresses during the University’s spring commencement ceremonies May 8 and 9.
During Friday’s ceremony, Dr. Harry Lesesne, executive director of the Darla Moore Foundation, will receive an honorary Doctorate of Humanities and serve as the commencement speaker.
During Saturday’s ceremony, Dr. Mariah Whitehead, senior vice president of land, Open Space Institute, and Michael Hawkins, associate athletic director for media relations at FMU, will receive honorary Doctorate of Humanities degrees. Whitehead will give the commencement address.