Donor and alumnus Robby Robb talks with students at the Denver School of Science and Technology, an institution he helped found. Photo: Wayne Armstrong
The University of Denver’s intensified focus on science and technology makes perfect sense to Robby Robb, a DU alumnus and former engineer who was the founding chairman of the board of the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST).
Robb (BS ’60, MBA ’61) knew all about the importance of those fields long before STEM (short for science, technology, engineering and math) became a buzzword in the world of education.
“If I look at where the United States is, one of the things we are able to do is to create and develop technology and innovation,” Robb says. “Engineering, science, medical — all of these areas require the basis you will have with a STEM education.”
Last year, Robb and his wife, Barbara, did their part to help University of Denver students achieve success in the sciences: They donated almost $2 million to support STEM scholarships. The gift gives special consideration to graduates of DSST, a network of charter schools within the Denver Public Schools system that focuses on science education and aims to prepare kids from all walks of life for college.
“I’ve always had this personal mantra that I wanted to make a difference that is a difference. It’s even written on a paper inside my medicine cabinet, so I see it each morning,” says Robb, who worked for 20 years at Martin Marietta and Boeing before turning his focus to education. “I see this as a way to help others get the education and the opportunities to make a difference for themselves, their families and, in a larger sphere, the country. Because if we don’t have educated, trained people, we won’t be able to sustain our economic positions. This helps everyone.”