Q&A with Anne Roby, PhD, '86 ChE

Dr. Anne Roby is executive vice president, Linde plc, and a newly installed member of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Villanova course that left the biggest impression: A rigorous chemical engineering course with Dr. White that taught us how to take the theoretical and make it practical.

What you learned at Villanova that still benefits you today: Just about everything, including the importance of checking your work many times. There was no tolerance for errors.

Most vivid Villanova memory: The semi-final tournament men’s basketball game against Memphis State in 1985. We weren’t expected to win that game.

Best piece of wisdom ever received: As part of Villanova’s accreditation process, I was one of a few students being interviewed by ABET. When asked about my post-graduation plans, I told the gentleman I was speaking to that I was debating between graduate school and starting my career but was concerned that graduate school would take too long. I’d be 26 before I was done and waiting to start my life. He reminded me that my life had already begun 20 years earlier and that the only thing I really needed to decide was whether I wanted to be 26 with a PhD or not.

Worst question ever asked: During my first job, I was asked, “What title do you want to retire with?” For some people, it’s all about the title instead of the work you’re being called to do.

The job I didn’t want but ultimately loved: Sales. It is really about problem solving and is still highly technical.

What you’d want to be doing if not your current profession: I really admire alumna Nance Dicciani ’69 ChE who, in her “retirement,” is bringing together people of different backgrounds who have great ideas to solve problems and develop new products and services. This is really what the National Academy of Engineering is about, bringing engineers together to solve the grand challenges.

The talent you would most like to have: Anything athletic.

Recommending an engineering degree: An engineering degree helps you look at problems differently, which is an asset regardless of the path you take and is something that you don’t learn with any other college degree.

VILLANOVA ENGINEERING GRADUATES IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING (YEAR ELECTED)

2020 Anne Roby ’86 ChE: For developments in oxidation processes and leadership in technological developments, safety and business growth in global industrial gas companies.

2001 Barry Johnson ’70 ME: In recognition of technical and strategic industry leadership in semiconductor devices, processes and packaging technologies.

1993 Francis Dwyer ’53 ChE: For recognition of his role in catalyst manufacturing and catalytic processing technology from laboratory to commercial scales.

1992 John L. Hennessy ’73 EE: For innovations in computer architecture and software techniques for reduced instruction set computers (RISC), and for quantitative evaluation methods for modern computer architectures. 1991 Steve S. Chen ’71 MSEE For leadership in the development of super-computer architectures and their realization.

1985 Allen F. Rhodes ’47 ME: For contributions to petroleum production technology and to the growth of the engineering profession.

1974 Thomas J. Hanratty ’47 ChE: For contributions in the analysis and design of turbulent, gas-liquid and solid-liquid flow systems.