Penn State alumni William and Wendy Korb donated $565,000 to the university. The gift will create a permanent fund for research and innovative teaching in Penn State Behrend's School of Engineering. 

The funding will be used to develop new teaching approaches and support research initiatives and professional development opportunities for faculty and students. 

The gift will also fund improvements to the school's research and teaching labs. 

“The breadth of this gift, which expands the Korb family’s generous and consistent support of the School of Engineering, will benefit students in two major ways,” said Chancellor Ralph Ford. “It will provide immediate improvements to our facilities and equipment, enhancing the undergraduate research experiences that help our graduates stand out. It also will allow us to recruit and retain the highly engaged faculty members who shape those student experiences.”

To recognize the continued support of the Korbs, the university has named the lobby of the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center the Korb Family Atrium. 

The two-story space is a gateway to Behrend's Knowledge Park.

Penn State Behrend says the new endowment extends a tradition of giving by the Korbs, who have long support the School of Engineering. 

William Korb attend Penn State Behrend for two years before earning a degree in industrial engineering at University Park in 1962. Wendy attended Penn State and then earned her degree at Indiana University. 

In 2002, the couple established the Korb Family Trustee Scholarship in Engineering at Penn State Behrend. Then, in 2014, they created three early-career professorships in industrial engineering that included a position at Behrend. 

The William and Wendy Korb Early Career Professorship in Industrial Engineering at Behrend College is currently held by Julia Zhao. She is the third faculty member to benefit from the professorship. 

More information on the funding can be found on Penn State Behrend's website.