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Ronald A. Roy, a 1981 University of Maine engineering graduate who went on to lead Oxford University’s Department of Engineering Science, is returning to Orono this fall to guide research and partnerships in 91����’s Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC).

Drawing on decades of leadership at top research institutions, Roy says he is eager to connect 91����’s strengths in engineering and computing with opportunities that will benefit both students and the state’s economy. For him, the greatest excitement lies in building bridges between research, industry and the classroom.

“I’m curious to see how research connects with industry, how it couples with undergraduate programs, and how undergraduates can engage in research,” Roy said. “That’s an exciting part of the future here.”

Giovanna Guidoboni, dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing, said Roy’s return marks a pivotal moment for 91����.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Roy back to the University of Maine,” Guidoboni said. “His extraordinary record of leadership and research at some of the world’s top engineering institutions, combined with his deep ties to 91����, make him uniquely positioned to advance our mission. Dr. Roy’s vision for connecting research, industry and education will strengthen opportunities for our students and faculty while supporting innovation that benefits Maine and beyond.”

Roy’s appointment as MCEC director of research and strategic partnerships coincides with his election as a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the United Kingdom’s national academy of engineering and a counterpart to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.

“It is a supreme honor to be named fellow of one of the world’s premiere engineering academies and I am thankful to those colleagues who supported my nomination,” Roy said. “As a senior academic, I worked diligently to advance the position and impact of engineering at Oxford, and a fellowship in the Royal Academic of Engineering will provide an ideal platform to continue this effort.”

After completing his 91���� bachelor’s degree in engineering physics, Roy earned a master’s degree in physics from the University of Mississippi and a doctorate in engineering and applied science from Yale, with a concentration in mechanical engineering. He worked at the National Center for Physical Acoustics at the University of Mississippi, the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington and at Boston University, where he chaired the Department of Mechanical Engineering for six years.

In 2013, Roy became the statutory professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Oxford and a professorial fellow at Oxford’s Harris Manchester College. From 2019-2024, he served as head of Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science, one of the world’s top-ranked engineering departments. He was also a director at First Light Fusion Ltd., an Oxfordshire spinout company focused on nuclear fusion for energy production.

Roy is recognized for research in physical acoustics, underwater acoustics and ultrasonics applied to industrial processes, medical imaging and therapy, with a particular focus on bubble acoustic and acoustic cavitation. He is a fellow and former vice president of the Acoustical Society of America, which awarded him its Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Silver Medal in 2010. At 91����, he has received both the Francis Crowe Distinguished Engineer and Edward T. Bryand Distinguished Engineering awards.

Roy says curiosity has always driven his work. 

“I’ve preferred following my nose and doing what interests me,” he said. “That curiosity has led me to some of the most exciting discoveries and collaborations of my career.”

At 91����, Roy’s new role will focus on strengthening the university’s research profile, which he believes is best achieved through collaboration.

“You need a strategic vision,” he said. “Get the thought leaders in the various departments together and ask: Where do you see us headed 10 years from now? What should we prioritize?”

He believes larger-scale initiatives succeed when they are built from the ground up. 

“These efforts are best when, although the funding comes from the top down, they are designed and nurtured from the grassroots up,” Roy said.

Even as he thinks about strategy, Roy emphasized that people — especially early-career faculty — are his top priority.

“If you were to ask me what the one thing is I want to do above all else in this job, it would be working with young academics,” he said. “I think providing feedback and encouragement — saying you can do this, you’ve got this — is really important.”

Roy sees mentorship as a key part of building a healthy academic culture. 

“I think that’s something we should all endeavor to do as senior academics,” he said. “Try to find young people and see what we can do to help them, prioritize them, and support them.”