Lesleighan Cravens received Mizzou’s 2026 Kathleen and Robert Unrath Excellence in Visionary Teaching Award. Cravens is an assistant teaching professor in the Division of Plant Science and Technology.  

The award recognizes and rewards educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication, innovation and effectiveness in their teaching practices, and who emphasize demonstrating a strong creative and visual connection to the disciplines they teach. 

Cravens’ academic responsibilities include overseeing and supervising the operation of Tiger Garden, the student-operated floral shop on campus. She also advises the Mizzou Student Chapter of the American Institute of Floral Designers. As the faculty advisor, Cravens works to prepare students for regional and national competitions, expand students’ views of the floral industry and prepare students for careers within the industry. 

Throughout her time at Mizzou, Cravens has taught multiple plant sciences courses that focus on floral design. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education at Mizzou.