Endowed Fund to Support International Education for Years to Come

A generous contribution from Dr. John Schmertmann has secured the future of the Kristen Hagen International Education Fund, creating a lasting source of support for international education at Florida State University. Through two gifts totaling $100,000, Dr. Schmertmann helped the fund reach endowment status. The endowed fund will generate approximately $4,000 annually in interest to use to support international education initiatives and students for years to come. Those who wish to support the fund's mission are encouraged to contribute through give.fsu.edu by searching for the Kristen Hagen International Education Fund (Fund #F09325).

The idea for the fund came from former FSU international students who wanted to honor the legacy of Kristen Hagen, whose dedication to international education and the Center for Global Engagement left a lasting impact on the FSU community. Hagen served FSU for more than 25 years, overseeing immigration compliance and advising for international students and scholars while helping advance the university's global engagement efforts. Dr. Schmertmann, Hagen's father-in-law, said his gift was inspired both by her work and by his own lifelong experiences with international engagement. "My contributions to the Kristen Hagen International Education Fund are a way to 'pay forward' the benefits I received from years of interaction and collaboration with international students, researchers, faculty and organizations," Dr. Schmertmann said.

A first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Germany, Dr. Schmertmann has had an outstanding career shaped by academics, research, consulting and a variety of global experiences. He received his undergraduate degree from MIT followed by a Ph.D. from Northwestern. He was a faculty member in the civil engineering department at the University of Florida for 22 years and also conducted research in Norway and Canada, worked in Greenland with the US Army Corp of Engineers, and collaborated with organizations around the world. Dr. Schmertmann considers himself a generalist in geotechnical engineering and he has made many contributions to geotechnical engineering internationally. Dr. Schmermann has established one consulting engineering firm and co-founded two others since the 1970s.

He has also traveled to more than 50 countries and has seen the impact of exchange firsthand through his family's experiences, including student exchanges in Portugal and Brazil and hosting a Norwegian exchange student. Reflecting on Hagen's legacy, Dr. Schmertmann shared, "I admired Kristen's career in international education and the satisfaction she derived from her work at the Center for Global Engagement. I am proud to join others in supporting international students for years to come by making a significant donation to the Kristen Hagen International Education Fund."

By endowing the fund, Dr. Schmertmann has created a lasting tribute to Kristen Hagen's commitment to global engagement while ensuring future generations of students can benefit from international education opportunities. “Dr. Schmertmann’s generous donation to the Kristen Hagen International Education Fund is the largest donation ever received on behalf of the Center for Global Engagement,” said Dr. Cynthia Green, Director of the CGE. “This donation is a testament to the importance of international education which will benefit international students at Florida State University.”