In Memory of Lorelei Davis

Lorelei was born on August 19, 1962, in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Provo, Utah. She studied Zoology at Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1984, married, and went on to complete her Ph.D. in Genetics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where her first daughter was born. After completing her PhD, Lorelei Davis completed a post-doctoral research appointment at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London, England, where her second daughter was born.

After returning to the United States, Lorelei took a research position at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. She held several positions, including AP Biology Teacher at Hathaway Brown School, Assistant Director Office of Technology Transfer at Cleveland Clinic, Partner and Vice President at Frantz Medical Ventures, Associate Director MSU Business-CONNECT at Michigan State University, and finally at KWS, first as Senior Manager of Business Development and later on Head of the Digital Innovation Accelerator program (DIA).

She recognized the value of digitalization for KWS at an early stage and, with the DIA, has made a very significant contribution to ensuring that KWS views digitalization from many angles and is open to the possibilities of using new technologies.

Lorelei was passionate about her work as a scientist and as a manager who was skilled in both science and the business aspects of her work. Her bilingual abilities (both English/German and Scientist/Management) allowed her to facilitate communication and understanding between people of different perspectives, something that came naturally to her. She was political and progressive - she spoke out with a strong voice but focused on creating space for others. She was an environmentalist and a feminist. She was a good friend and built strong relationships across age groups. She always accepted people exactly as they were. She was fashionable and fun.

Lorelei was a great enrichment for KWS in every respect. She always gave us new impulses and new insights. We will miss her deeply.

Our thoughts are with her two daughters, her family and friends, and all those who knew and appreciated her. |