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�鶹Ů�� Receives $1.5M Gift for Engineering and Biology Scholarships

From left, Leif Carlsson, Ph.D., �鶹Ů�� President Adam Hasner and Seija Carlsson

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�鶹Ů�� has received a $1.5 million estate gift from Leif Carlsson, Ph.D., and Seija Carlsson to provide scholarships and programmatic support for students studying ocean and mechanical engineering and biology. Through this gift, the Carlssons will support students who share their passion for the fields they pursued.

“This university has been very good for both of us,” Leif Carlsson said. “�鶹Ů�� is very vibrant with a great diversity of students, and it has been inspiring to work with them. It’s a very good feeling to make this gift.”

Leif Carlsson is the J.M. Rubin Foundation Professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering and Computer Science and has been a professor at �鶹Ů�� since 1987. Seija Carlsson is an alumna who graduated from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science with a degree in biology.

“Few people embody the spirit of the Florida Atlantic community quite like the Carlssons. Dr. Carlsson has spent four decades as a dedicated faculty member, leaving a lasting mark on countless students, while Mrs. Carlsson’s connection to �鶹Ů�� as an alumna spans more than 30 years,” said �鶹Ů�� President Adam Hasner. “Their gifts – which place Dr. Carlsson among the university’s most generous faculty donors of all time – honor that deep bond and carry the Carlsson legacy forward to future generations, making an impact in the vital fields of engineering and biology at Florida Atlantic.   

The Carlssons’ gift establishes the Leif Carlsson Engineering Scholarship Endowment to provide scholarships for students majoring in ocean and mechanical engineering and the Seija Carlsson Biology Scholarship Endowment to provide scholarships to biology majors. A portion of the gift will provide resources for student clubs and competitive teams within the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, including Owls Racing, the Marine Robotics Club, the Human Powered Submarine team and the Aerospace Experimental Association. By providing resources for these high-impact experiences, the endowment enables students to translate classroom learning into real-world engineering innovation and international competitions.

In grateful recognition of the Carlssons’ gift, the conference room that serves the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering in Florida Atlantic’s Engineering West building will be named the Leif Carlsson Conference Room.

“Dr. Carlsson’s career at �鶹Ů�� spans almost 40 years of extraordinary dedication to our programs and the advancement of engineering research,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “His passion for mentoring students, challenging them to think boldly, and guiding them toward excellence has shaped the trajectory of countless graduates. We are deeply appreciative that his legacy will continue to empower future engineers to dream big and achieve even more.”

Seija Carlsson graduated in 1996 with a degree in biology and then went on to work in the chemistry labs of vitamin and supplement manufacturer Rexall Sundown Inc. She hopes to encourage biology majors in their pursuit of a degree.

“Because of this scholarship endowment, future generations of biology majors will have greater access to pursue the field, which often leads to professional or graduate school,” said Valery Forbes, Ph.D., dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “For years, biology is the largest major at �鶹Ů��, and for students, being able to graduate without debt really sets them up for success. We are especially grateful when an alumna like Seija chooses to give back to students in the area she pursued.”

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Tags: faculty and staff | foundation | alumni | science | engineering