Yue-eng Gail Wang Study Abroad in Taiwan Fund

Press Release

Dr. William Gabrenya, Professor in the School of Psychology at Florida Institute of Technology, has established an endowment to support students at FIT wishing to study abroad in Taiwan. The endowment honors Dr. Gabrenya’s wife, Yue-Eng Gail Wang, who passed away on November 9, 2011. Born in Taipei, Taiwan on June 8, 1948, Yue-Eng graduated first in her class in History at National Taiwan University in 1970. In 1979, she earned her Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the University of Missouri-Columbia following fieldwork in Hartsburg, Missouri. She received an M.S. in computer science from Florida Tech in 1987 and had a successful 17 year career at Harris Corporation as a software engineer, retiring in 2010.

The Yue-Eng Gail Wang Study Abroad in Taiwan Fund was established to increase Americans’ knowledge of Taiwan by encouraging Florida Tech students to study abroad in the country at any of several outstanding Universities. It is his hope that this fund will foster, for its future beneficiaries, a greater appreciation of Taiwanese society and culture, provide an opportunity to learn its languages, and develop enduring friendships and connections.

“What is particularly wonderful about this fund,” said President McCay, “is that it builds on FIT’s place as a national leader in internationalism while building on the University’s early connection with Taiwan that was established by FIT founding president Dr. Jerome Keuper. We attract a high percentage of international students to the U.S. and this fund will help our U.S. students to share in a meaningful experience in Taiwan. I am also very honored that Dr. Gabrenya has chosen to honor his wife, and our alum, Yue-Eng, in this special way.”

The Yue-Eng Gail Wang Study Abroad in Taiwan Fund will launch immediately this year.  Students interested in the program can contact Heather Wautlet, Director of Study Abroad at hcudmore@fit.edu, for information on how to apply.

Anyone interested in helping to support and grow this program are welcomed to contact Gary Grant, Vice President for Development, at  ggrant@fit.edu.