Dr. Robert W. Roberts Endowed Scholarship AIChE Students

The Dr. Robert W. Roberts Endowment for AIChE Students was established by Rich Shevelow, BSChE 1984, in appreciation of Dr. Roberts’ profound integrity for inspiring and personally connecting with each of his students. The intent of this fund is to further Dr. Roberts’ reputation for promoting real-world engineering technology applications within the academic setting. Awards from the fund will, therefore, help to advance the educational experiences of engineering students with the professional training and practical applications gained by participating in The University of Akron’s student chapter of AIChE and AIChE-sponsored events.

Dr. Robert W. Roberts is regarded as a highly respected and distinguished member of The University of Akron faculty. Offering a successful career both in industry and academia, the University hired Dr. Roberts in 1966 as an associate professor for the College of Engineering. Among his most-noted accomplishments while at the University was his leadership and vision in helping to establish the Department of Chemical Engineering. In addition to engineering, by 1969 Dr. Roberts had added the Department of Polymer Science to his teaching assignments. In 1970, Dr. Roberts was appointed chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and continued to teach while also advising masters of science and Ph.D. students.

Dr. Roberts took a two-year leave from The University of Akron in 1978 to head the Plastics Engineering program (a four-year degree program) for the Algerian Institute of Petroleum in Algiers, Algeria. He returned to the University in 1980 as the Robert Iredell Chair Professor in Chemical Engineering. In 1988, Dr. Roberts retired from full-time teaching, yet he remains active with the College of Engineering as a professor emeritus in Chemical Engineering.

The Dr. Robert W. Roberts Endowment for AIChE Students is to be awarded to an undergraduate chemical engineering student or a student-design team participating in AIChE-sponsored activities or competitions. The individual or student-team that receives this award must demonstrate outstanding leadership and teamwork skills, exceptional work ethic, and extraordinary dedication to planning and implementing practical engineering concepts and ideas. The recipient(s) will be selected by a committee consisting of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department chair and/or faculty.