FAU Receives Transformational Gift for Scholarships, Programs
FAU has received a transformational gift from Wayne and Lucretia Weiner in support of the School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability.
ֱ̲ Atlantic University has received a transformational gift from Wayne and Lucretia Weiner in support of the School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS). The couple’s generous gift significantly expands scholarships and programs to foster successful advancement among undergraduates, graduates and postdoctoral fellows focused on the environment. It also provides resources for interdisciplinary research teams, faculty, a professor-in-residence program, and partnerships that bolster environmental sustainability.
“Wayne and Lucretia’s investment in ECOS puts ֱ̲ Atlantic at the forefront of environmental research, engagement, and outreach today and into the future,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “We appreciate their support of FAU students, and value their partnership in educating the next generation of environmental scientists.”
ECOS was established just two years ago as a partnership between the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and ֱ̲ Atlantic’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute to amplify the impact and visibility of environmental programs. In 2024, the Weiners made the first significant donation to ECOS. This latest gift is a substantial expansion, positioning ECOS as a leading center for innovative environmental education with a regional, national and international reputation for cutting-edge research, outstanding teaching, and impactful community outreach.
“Thanks to the visionary support of Wayne and Lucretia Weiner, we are removing financial barriers and broadening the availability of immersive opportunities for our students,” said Valery Forbes, Ph.D., dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, under whose leadership ECOS was launched. “Their investment provides paid internships, paid research opportunities, and generous scholarships within ECOS, among many more new opportunities, which will be truly transformational for our new school.”
The gift provides extraordinary support for students interested in environmental science at every level, and it includes resources designed to recruit talented faculty and students to ֱ̲ Atlantic for research and study. It establishes 150 undergraduate scholarships for juniors and seniors interested in environmental science; 70 undergraduate paid internships; 90 paid undergraduate research fellowships; and 10 summer externships for juniors at partner institutions across the nation. Resources are also available for field trips to ֱ̲ Atlantic’s Harbor Branch in Fort Pierce and programmatic support for Harbor Branch’s renowned Semester By The Sea program.
To recruit and retain talented students interested in environmental science, the gift establishes 20 two-year fellowships for incoming master’s candidates, 20 Ph.D. fellowships, and five postdoctoral fellowships for two years, which include salaries, benefits and research budgets. The gift also continues many important programs designed to ensure support and continuity for ECOS students, which were established in the Weiners’ first gift: three senior faculty mentors, nine junior faculty mentors, and an emergency student support fund for unexpected hardships. This newest gift also continues a travel fund for faculty and students to attend important environmental conferences.
“By supporting scholarships, internships and research fellowships, Wayne and Lucretia Weiner are creating an opportunity pipeline that gets our student scientists out of the classroom, into our research labs, and out into the community conducting solution-oriented environmental research with real-world impact,” said Steven Vollmer, Ph.D., director of ECOS. “Their gift is a game changer for environmental science at ֱ̲ Atlantic.”
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