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Worcester Polytechnic Institute Receives $12 Million Legacy Gift from Distinguished Alumnus Carl Karlsson ’60 to Advance Faculty Excellence and Student Success

One of the Largest Individual Gifts in WPI’s History Will Strengthen Faculty Recruitment and Fuel the University’s Future
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August 27, 2025

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) today announced a visionary $12 million legacy gift from Carl Karlsson, Class of 1960. The unrestricted estate gift, made following Karlsson’s passing in 2023, will provide broad support across WPI, with a portion dedicated to establishing endowed professorships for early career faculty—a strategic investment in the university’s long-term academic excellence. 

Among the most significant philanthropic commitments ever made by an individual to WPI and in support of Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Karlsson’s gift will leave a lasting mark on the university’s future. Unrestricted gifts are among the most powerful forms of philanthropy because they provide WPI with the flexibility to address its highest priorities, respond to emerging opportunities, and invest strategically in areas of greatest need. Karlsson’s altruism ensures WPI remains nimble and well-positioned to advance its mission for generations to come. 

“This is a shining example of the extraordinary generosity and dedication of our alumni to give back and help WPI continue to thrive,” said Grace J. Wang, President of WPI. “Carl Karlsson’s remarkable gift will impact the university by supporting faculty excellence, fueling research and innovation, and enriching the student experience. His legacy will empower future generations to achieve, discover, and lead in ways that ensure WPI’s enduring excellence and global impact.” 

After earning his degree in chemical engineering in 1960, Karlsson built a successful career in information systems and technology, working for Praxair Inc. in Tonawanda, New York. Throughout his life, he remained deeply connected to WPI, contributing annually to the university’s areas of greatest need for nearly four decades. His legacy gift reflects a lifelong belief in the power of education to improve lives, a value that aligns closely with WPI’s mission and project-based learning model.

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Carl Karlsson’s remarkable gift will impact the university by supporting faculty excellence, fueling research and innovation, and enriching the student experience. His legacy will empower future generations to achieve, discover, and lead in ways that ensure WPI’s enduring excellence and global impact.” Beginning Quote Icon of beginning quote
  • WPI President Grace J. Wang

A portion of Karlsson’s gift will establish the Carl H. Karlsson ’60 Early Career Professorship, a named endowment designed to support up to three early-career faculty members. These professorships will help WPI recruit and retain rising academic leaders and researchers whose work drives innovation and inspires the next generation of STEM professionals. By investing in faculty at the beginning of their careers, WPI ensures a strong foundation for future research breakthroughs and exceptional student mentorship. 

“Endowed professorships like this one allow us to attract and retain outstanding faculty and are essential to WPI’s ability to remain competitive among top-tier research institutions. They provide faculty with the resources to pursue bold ideas, attract external funding, and contribute to a dynamic learning environment,” said Andrew Sears, WPI Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. “We are deeply grateful to Carl Karlsson for making this remarkable opportunity possible, which will strengthen our faculty and benefit our students well into the future.” 

Beyond These Towers, a nod to the towers of WPI’s first two buildings and the enduring symbols of its guiding philosophy of theory and practice, positions WPI to continue to transform lives, to turn knowledge into action to confront global challenges, and to revolutionize STEM through distinctive education, projects, and research. The campaign provides opportunities for alumni and friends to fund strategic initiatives that support undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and world-changing research, global programs, facilities, and a thriving campus community. 

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