Mavis Agbandje-McKenna's Obituary
On Wednesday March 3, 2021, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at her home in Gainesville, FL at the age of 57. Mavis is survived by her spouse, Robert McKenna; children, Sean McKenna and Nicole McKenna; and grandchild, Lyn McKenna.
Mavis was born on April 11, 1963 in Orogun, Nigeria to Samuel and Rachel Agbandje. She later moved to the United Kingdom where she pursued education as a way to a better life. Mavis obtained her PhD in Biophysics from the University of London in 1989. At the University of London she met her husband, Robert Mckenna, who she married in 1988. She worked at Purdue University and the University of Warwick before joining the faculty at the University of Florida in 1999. She enjoyed mentoring students and sharing her love of science. Mavis co-founded the biotech company Stridebio. She has been recognized numerous times for her scientific contributions. These include being the 2018 University of Florida Innovator of the Year as well as earning the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy in 2020.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Williams-Thomas Westarea Chapel, 823 NW 143rd Street. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request those who wish to express sympathy to donate to the Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund. Please send contributions to the UF Health Office of Development, Attn: Agbandje-McKenna Fund, P.O. Box 100243, Gainesville, FL 32610.
Online donations may be made through the following website: Online giving: www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/025545
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