This fund was established in 2012 by Robert C. and Janet P. Kemerait to support students and faculty in the College of Engineering who have an internationalized prospection.

Robert earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering in 1960 and 1966 as well as a doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering in 1971, all from the University of Florida. He was the first graduate from the UF GENESYS Program and worked at Cape Canaveral on a number of rocket projects for many years. Robert served as the autopilot and guidance engineer on the Mercury-Atlas vehicle and on the Agena target vehicle in the Gemini launches. He was also an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. He is now senior scientist for the Nuclear Treaty Monitoring Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.

Janet received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from the University of Florida in 1961 and1968 and her doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Central Florida. She served as English teacher and media specialist with the School Board of Brevard County and also taught English for the University of Florida as well as for Eastern Florida State College.

This endowment was inspired by Robert’s extensive international business travel throughout his engineering career, travel that included numerous trips to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization headquarters in Vienna, Austria, as well as to South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Kazakhstan, Romania, and other countries around the world. Janet joined Robert during his international travels and through the years the Kemeraits have built valuable friendships in and developed a deep appreciation for many varied cultures.