A memorial service for Merle Kling, Ph.D., former provost, executive vice chancellor, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences and professor of political science in Arts & Sciences, will be held at 3 p.m. June 1 in Whitaker Hall Auditorium. A reception will follow in the Whitaker Hall Atrium.
In addition to the scheduled speakers, guests will be invited to share their memories of Kling. He died April 8 of esophageal cancer in St. Louis. He was 89.
A scholar of the governments and politics of Latin America and comparative politics, Kling was the author of two books — “The Soviet Theory of Internationalism” (1952) and “A Mexican Interest Group in Action” (1961) — and a contributor to numerous professional journals.
Kling joined WUSTL in 1946 as a lecturer in political science. Soon after his arrival, he advanced to instructor and was named assistant professor in 1950, associate professor in 1954 and full professor in 1961.
He twice served as dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, from 1966-69 and 1973-76, when he assumed the position of provost. In 1980, he received the additional title of executive vice chancellor.
For more information on the memorial service, call Erin Farrell at 935-6917 or e-mail klingmemorial@wustl.edu.