Lynde B. Uihlein Gives $10 Million to UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences
MILWAUKEE_Philanthropist and environmentalist Lynde B. Uihlein has announced a $10 million gift to the UWM Foundation that will benefit the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s freshwater sciences research and education mission.
The endowment, among the largest received in UWM’s history, will bolster the School of Freshwater Sciences and its Center for Water Policy. It will also provide operating funds for the school’s research vessels, the R/V Neeskay and the forthcoming R/V Maggi Sue.
“We are incredibly humbled and grateful for Lynde B. Uihlein’s transformative commitment to UWM’s mission,” said UWM Chancellor Thomas Gibson. “This is an extraordinary endorsement of UWM’s crucial work toward preserving our freshwater ecosystems and preparing the next generation of water professionals and leaders to protect these precious resources.”
Endowments are powerful tools because they last in perpetuity, so they provide an immediate and permanent source of funding, which benefits long-term planning. Uihlein is an alumna and stalwart supporter of UWM, and this extraordinary generosity will benefit the school and its students, faculty and researchers for years and decades to come.
“UWM’s freshwater researchers are such an important safeguard for our Great Lakes, which provide irreplaceable resources for nature and humanity alike,” Uihlein said. “They provide drinking water for our children, jobs for the regional economy, recreation for our communities, habitat for wildlife and marine life, and so much more. They are an essential part of our cultural heritage. We must do all we can to protect and understand them, and there is no place better to invest in this cause than UWM and the School of Freshwater Sciences.”
Of the $10 million, $4 million will support the core mission of the school. These flexible funds will be used to underwrite many areas, including research operations, faculty and research staff, equipment in laboratories, advising and mentorship, community outreach, and scholarships and fellowships for students.
Another $4 million will continue funding the Center for Water Policy, which brings together teams of experts from multiple disciplines. This allows, for example, people in environmental law and economics to work closely with research scientists to develop science-based water policy solutions to local, regional and global water issues.
The final $2 million will be used for year-round maintenance and operation of UWM’s freshwater research vessels. Upon construction, the R/V Maggi Sue will be the most technologically advanced research vessel ever designed for the Great Lakes, capable of long-range missions and cutting-edge research.
“It’s impossible to overstate just how important this investment is for our students, faculty, staff and work in so many areas,” School of Freshwater Sciences Dean Rebecca Klaper said. “It will resonate in the discoveries we make, the management solutions we provide, the future leaders and educators we teach, and the countless people who rely on our Great Lakes in their daily lives, now and into the future. For that and so much more, we can’t thank Lynde B. Uihlein enough.”
About the UWM Foundation
The UWM Foundation is UW-Milwaukee’s institutionally partnered foundation that’s dedicated to advancing UWM’s mission. Created in 1974, the foundation is responsible for complementing UWM’s public funding by harnessing private philanthropy to address urgent needs, accelerate innovation, expand opportunity and strengthen the community. It manages a portfolio valued at more than $270 million, and through responsible stewardship of these assets and funds, it facilitates support for UWM’s students, research and programming. The UWM Foundation also provides leadership and oversight to its affiliated organizations: the UWM Alumni Association, the UWM Real Estate Foundation and the UWM Research Foundation.
About UWM
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an ambitious mission as both a top-tier research university and an access institution, striving to ensure that students have equitable opportunities to earn a college degree. UWM educates a diverse student body of more than 23,000 students from 83 countries. About 43% of its undergraduates are first-generation college students. Its unique and top-rated programs include Wisconsin’s only accredited schools of architecture and public health, the only North American school dedicated solely to freshwater sciences and a film program ranked among the top 50 in the world. It has the largest and top-rated online education program in Wisconsin. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, promote entrepreneurship, provide student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2026 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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