Growing up in small-town Bristow, Iowa, Robert (Bob) Wubbena might never have imagined his work as an engineer would take him to the west coast and eventually around the world. Completing his civil and environmental engineering degrees from the University of Iowa College of Engineering in 1966 and 1968, respectively, Wubbena parlayed his studies of water treatment and work on campus into a career that would improve quality of life and access to clean water throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the globe.

While a student on campus, Wubbena worked as part-time water and wastewater treatment plant operator on the UI campus. This job, somewhat unusual for a student to have, opened his eyes to the process of water treatment and its essential role in keeping communities safe, healthy, and vibrant. “Even in the 1960s, the University of Iowa campus and Iowa City had a lot of specialized water treatment systems,” said Wubbena. “Getting this first-hand look at the process, combined with my work in the classroom, taught me a lot and positioned me to take what I learned into my professional career.” In addition to his part-time job, Wubbena also taught several classes at the UI while he was still a student, including courses on water and wastewater system operations and engineering.

After graduation, Wubbena moved west, where he served as director of planning and technical services for the Washington State Drinking Water Program until 1977. There, he managed a $50 million State Water Grant Program designed to improve public drinking water systems and guided development of a 50-year strategy for the future needs of water in the state. He never strayed far from his Iowa roots, always remembering the impressive Iowa model for managing community systems and the state’s watershed management programs. 

In 1978, he would go on to found Economic and Engineering Services, a regional consulting firm with five offices specializing in water, wastewater, and water resources as well as project financing and management. Over the course of nearly 30 years, he developed strategies for addressing water issues in world population centers and explored the interface between politics, population growth, and the environment. His firm would also hire many UI College of Engineering graduates whose training and thought processes reflected what he learned at the UI. 

“I am incredibly confident that the UI graduates we hired over the years came to us with the training needed to be successful engineers,” said Wubbena. “Maybe just as important is that these graduates are also globally aware and ethical, which is essential in the kind of international work that we do.” 

Wubbena was also active in the professional water organizations during his career, having served as International President of the American Water Works Association and as International President of the Association of Boards of Certification for Water and Wastewater Operators. His leadership continues through several charitable groups that deliver professionally designed water projects to many communities in developing nations. 

Staying active in retirement, Wubbena has traveled to over 70 countries for both pleasure and charitable water projects for Rotary International, Transform International, and AWWA/Water for People, as well as for Habitat for Humanity. Wubbena also created an endowment in the college to support faculty research. “I want to give to programs that mean something to me,” said Wubbena. “I am proud of the environmental engineering work underway in the college and want to ensure that it carries on for many years to come.”

The endowment is currently providing support for Craig Just, a UI associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, who is developing practical disinfection of rural water systems in Nicaragua and El Salvador.

“The history of water treatment excellence and innovation at the UI dates back to 1929, and our alumni are eager to help us strengthen and modernize this tradition” said Just. “The Wubbena gift is critical to growing our graduate program emphasis on water issues faced by communities with resource constraints. The gift helps us recruit, retain, and train students who are committed to changing the world for the better."