- Chris and Julianne Birdsall have repeatedly invested in ChE, the first being the ExxonMobil Gator Alumni Endowed Faculty Fund.
- The Birdsalls donated $500,000 to create the Birdsall Family Maker Space for Hands-on Innovation as part of the ChE renovation.
- The new facility will provide a collaborative laboratory, reinforcing UF’s commitment to cultivating world-class chemical engineers
As the chemical engineering building undergoes a years-long renovation, alumni from around the country are stepping up to support the department. In fact, one couple has stepped up twice.
Meet diehard Gators Chris and Julianne Birdsall of Houston, Texas.
Now a successful executive with ExxonMobil, Chris previously secured funding for the ExxonMobil Gator Chemical Engineering Alumni Endowed Faculty Fund, which “created a lasting impact on our ability to attract and retain outstanding faculty,” said Richard Dickinson, Ph.D., interim chair of UF’s Department of Chemical Engineering, or ChE.
Now, the Birdsalls are playing a key role in the building renovation with a $500,000 donation. This will fund the creation of the Birdsall Family Maker Space for Chemical Engineering Innovation, a laboratory where students and researchers participate in collaborative, hands-on design while prototyping processes and products.
“Chris and Julianne have been steadfast supporters of our students and faculty since before I began my first term as department chair in 2009. Chris’s leadership and thoughtful counsel on our Advisory Board have played an important role in shaping the department’s growth and success,” Dickinson said.
Their support is no surprise, as the family has deep roots in their beloved Gator Nation.
They grew up in Boynton Beach, Florida, and met in high school. Both come from Gator families. Their parents, aunts, uncles and son attended the University of Florida. Julianne’s father graduated with a degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering, and their son, Travis, a third-generation Gator engineer, graduated in May with his mechanical engineering degree.
Their daughter, Taylor, also a lifelong Gator fan, is currently studying film at DePaul University in Chicago.
Chris enjoyed chemistry in high school, so he chose chemical engineering and credits Distinguished Professor Ranga Narayanan, Ph.D., with impacting his success.
“Dr. Narayanan was hugely influential during my time at UF, both in the classroom and in the research lab. His ability to blend rigorous theory with hands-on laboratory work instilled in me a deep appreciation for chemical engineering and its real-world impact,” he said.
While in college, Chris discovered the wide range of career opportunities his field offered. Upon graduation (BS, ‘96), he joined ExxonMobil as a process engineer and focused on optimizing manufacturing processes and scaling up new technologies. He has since transitioned into business roles, where he combines technical engineering expertise with sales and marketing.
Chris is currently ExxonMobil’s climate director.
“I work on solutions that improve society’s access to reliable and affordable energy while simultaneously reducing emissions. This work naturally blends chemical engineering fundamentals with business strategy. The energy transition strongly relies on chemical engineering fundamentals — thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and process design and optimization — to develop and scale technologies essential for society’s future,” he explained.
Julianne’s first love was architecture, but she was equally passionate about art and mathematics. A high school teacher encouraged her to develop a portfolio for architecture school, but a lack of confidence won out so she leaned into her math skills and pursued civil engineering at UF (BS, ’97).
She was fascinated by property development and construction. She watched heavy equipment for fun and played in dirt piles left behind on construction sites.
“A summer job as a receptionist at a K-12 construction site in South Florida gave me my first real exposure to engineering plan sets. The civil engineering drawings stood out to me the most. I was captivated by how they reshaped the land itself,” she said.
Julianne went back to school after 25-plus years of working as a civil engineer. This time, she focused on landscape architecture and recently received her master’s degree in landscape architecture from Texas A&M.
She recently joined Halff, an award-winning infrastructure consulting firm where she will work alongside engineers, landscape architects and urban planners under one roof.
“I’m particularly passionate about sustainable design and nature-based solutions that address engineering challenges with creativity and beauty. The horticulture courses and design studios from my master’s program have equipped me with the skills to approach technical problems with an aesthetic and ecological perspective. That’s exactly where I see my career heading,” she explained.
Julianne said she used the family home as a living canvas while completing her degree.
“I may be a bit biased, but our most recent landscape redesign and installation turned out beautifully,” she said.
The couple credits their time at UF for opening doors for them professionally.
“We have both been truly blessed in our careers and have always wanted to give back. We began donating shortly after graduation with modest gifts that have grown over time alongside our careers,” Chris said.
The building fund means a lot to the Birdsalls, Chris noted, as it directly supports and develops the next generation of UF chemical engineers.
“A world-class facility for a world-class faculty is the perfect way to invest in the future of the department and ensure its continued excellence for decades to come,” he said.