KU mourns death of former pharmacy dean
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas community is mourning the death of former vice chancellor and longtime KU School of Pharmacy Dean Howard Mossberg.
Mossberg died April 16 after a short illness. He was 85.
He served as dean of the School of Pharmacy from 1966 until 1991, when he was named KU's vice chancellor for research, graduate studies and public service.
“Howard Mossberg played an integral role in greatly expanding the research capabilities of our School of Pharmacy, which he helped to elevate among our nation’s finest,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “A true innovator, his significant contributions across our entire university still resonate today. I am saddened to learn of his death, and, on behalf of the entire university, I express my sincere condolences to his family, friends and to all who knew him at KU.”
Under Mossberg’s leadership, the school saw unprecedented growth of the research programs in the basic sciences. He led the way in the building of facilities in the West District, including Pharmaceutical Chemistry, McCollum, Smissman and Simons Research laboratories. He also oversaw expansion of the pharmacy program and a $12 million addition to Malott Hall in 1980.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the KU School of Pharmacy was and remains among the nation's top pharmacy schools in National Institutes of Health research funding.
He earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy and a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Florida. Before coming to KU, he was a professor of pharmacy and administrator at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma.
KU School of Pharmacy Dean Ken Audus said that for many, the name Howard Mossberg is synonymous with KU Pharmacy.
“It was estimated that when Howard stepped down as dean in 1991, about 75 percent of the KU Pharmacy alumni had graduated while he was dean,” Audus said. “He was well-known and respected by so many of our graduates who are still practicing.”
Services will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, April 23, at the Smith Center at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.
Updated on: 04/19/2018