The e4usa community mourns the passing of Dr. Leigh Abts, a founding visionary whose leadership, mentorship, and commitment to engineering education left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of working with him. As one of the original architects of the e4usa concept and a board member of our 501(c)(3), Dr. Abts helped shape the mission and values that continue to guide us today.
Leigh was not only a scholar and innovator but also a mentor to many. He dedicated his career to making engineering and STEM education more accessible, particularly through online and blended learning. His work included extensive collaborations with community colleges, where he focused on building bridges between associate and bachelor’s degree programs. He also led efforts to prepare returning servicemembers for careers in energy and engineering, combining technical excellence with a deep commitment to opportunity.
A colleague who worked closely with him shared:
“Leigh is a visionary leader in online education for applied mathematical and scientific disciplines... a community-oriented educator, working extensively with community college faculty and student populations... an effective and collegial leader, and a delight to work with, and I'd do so again in a heartbeat.”
In recognition of Dr. Abts’ profound contributions to the field and to our organization, we are proud to announce the creation of the Leigh Abts Legacy in Engineering Education Scholarship. This scholarship will support future educators who share his passion for innovation, equity, and excellence in engineering education.
Stacy Klein-Gardner, Executive Director of e4usa, shared:
“Leigh was a gatherer of talented people, always propelling that person’s career forward and creating more effective teams as he went. I was lucky enough to be ‘gathered’ early in my career when we both had a passion for effective engineering teacher professional development through the NSF’s Research Experience for Teachers program. Fast forward 20+ years and I had the privilege of working with him on Engineering for US All (e4usa), a dream come true for us both. Through this time, Leigh modeled an academic selflessness that was uncommon, always being invested for the good of our field, the teachers, and the students.”
Dr. Abts was a true friend and guide to the e4usa community. Through this scholarship and the continued work of those he mentored, his legacy will live on.
If you’d like to make a gift in his memory, you can do so here:
https://e4usa.org/donate
From left to right: Stacy Klein-Gardner, Mike Bitner, Leigh Abts, and Jenny Kouo celebrating together at the 2024 e4usa Summer Social in Baltimore.
