Herbert Werthem: The Vision. The Transformation. The Impact.

Honoring the gift, leadership and lasting impact of Dr. Herbert “Herbie” Wertheim, founding chairman of the college since Oct 1, 2015

In October 2015, the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering was named after a benefactor who was more than just generous; the $50 million gift that Dr. Herbert Wertheim gave to the University of Florida launched the college into an unparalleled transformation. A Gator himself, Dr. Wertheim saw the potential for UF's College of Engineering to change the world through engineering education, research and development.

How did Dr. Wertheim’s generosity exponentially expand the college’s possibilities? His gift enabled the development of more space, more classrooms and more laboratories: exactly the kind of place where the top engineers in the country are formed.

Herbert Wertheim visits Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering on October 3, 2025, to celebrate 10 years of the Wertheim Transformation.

Dr. Herbert Wertheim’s impact cannot be stressed enough, as his gift resulted in a $300 million public-private partnership that has forever transformed engineering at the University of Florida. The construction of world-class facilities like the Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence and the Malachowsky Hall for Data Science and Information Technology is just the beginning of the innovative changes wrought by Wertheim’s donation. His impact will be felt for generations to come.