Kalai Mathee

I am professor from the Florida International University with 23+ years experience, and extensive involvement in fund raising and creating endowments.

Professional Experience

• I joined FIU in 1999 as an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. 
• After eight years in the faculty of science and a sabbatical stint at Harvard Medical School, I joined FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in 2007 as an associate professor, playing a pivotal role in the early growth of the College. 
• I became the first founding faculty and the founding chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. I rose to the rank of Professor in 2010. 
• I founded the FIU Global Health Conference in 2011. Following a sabbatical at Pan American Health Organization-World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and Sabin Vaccine Institute, she returned to FIU to become the Founding Director of the Global Health Consortium in 2014. Currently, the consortium has over 3 Million dollars in endowment.
• I received the 2021 FIU service award for her relentless contributions to minority and civil rights issues.
•  In 2022 I was named the recipient of the Microbiology Society Outreach Award.

Philanthropic Activities

• I have helped FIU to establish several endowments, including one with my husband 
• 2014 — received the Torch Bearer Award along with my spouse from FIU for their legacy giving
• 2017 — donated $25,000 RM towards the School Library in her alma mater, Government Tamil School, Ipoh, Malaysia
• 2020 — established free food program for poor students in her alma mater, Government Tamil School, Ipoh, Malaysia.
• Helped to establish the following endowments in FIU: 
  • RJ Smiddy for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Endowment
  • Melita Jaric Travel Award for Graduate Students
  • Barbara Bader Endowment for Leadership
  • Reverend Martin Luther King Jr Scholarship Endowment
  • Robert M. Coatie MLK Youth Forum 
  • Reverend Martin Luther King Jr Breakfast Speaker (Dotson Family) Endowment
  • Kalai Mathee Food Pantry Program Endowment Initiative
  • Under the aegis of the Tamil and Tamilar Diaspora Studies Initiative 
    • Kalai Mathee and Giri Narasimhan Endowment Initiative for Tamil and Tamilar Diaspora Studies Operation
    • Kamala Arunachalam Tamil Isai Endowment 
    • Tamilkuyil Kaliaperumal-Rugmani Malaysian Tamilar Diaspora Studies Endowment Initiative 
    • Ilangai Tamilar Studies Endowment Initiative
    • Vallalar Studies Endowment Initiative
    • Padmashri Professor George Hart Lecture Series Endowment Initiative

• Bachelor of Science in Genetics (1984, U of Malaya) 
• Master of Science (1986, U of Malaya, Mentor: Prof Koh Chong Lek) 
• Ph.D. in molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, in 1992 (Mentor: Prof Martha Howe) 
• Master’s in Public Health, majoring in health policy management 2018 from Florida International University.