January 2006

Profiles of Success

Anne Schowe, B.S. 1972, Computer Science

Anne Schowe graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Purdue in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Computer Science. “At Purdue I got a great foundation in the principles of digital computing—theory of computing, logic, algorithms, languages, and data structures. I was able to apply the concepts I learned in all sorts of products—from digital simulators to integrated circuits to servers.” Anne earned her MS in computer science from Northwestern University in 1974, and in 1979 she received her MBA from the College of St. Thomas.

As a pioneering female leader in the computer science industry, Anne planned her path to success carefully. She encountered challenges in diversifying this male-dominated discipline, but kept on climbing. She says, “This was a tough and often hidden problem. I tried to stay with companies that were growing quickly and programs where I had specific expertise. These usually provided the best climate for diversity.”

Anne’s first job was at AT&T Bell Laboratories where she was a member of the technical staff working on an early Computer Aided Design and Diagnosis system. From Bell Labs, Anne moved to Control Data Corporation where she was advanced systems program manager in the Energy Management Systems Division. Control Data honored Anne with its Sustained Management Excellence Award in 1979. After Control Data, Anne spent a year in a short-lived start-up company as development director. When that company folded, Anne returned to AT&T where she held several positions in marketing, strategy and general management in AT&T’s semiconductor business. Her last position was Managing Director of the Visual Solutions Business Unit, where her organization developed chipsets for digital video conferencing, digital TV, and HDTV. Anne moved to Sun Microsystems as Vice President and General Manager for Interactive Systems in 1994. She held several executive positions in Sun’s Systems Business before her retirement in 2000. From 1998 to 2000, Anne was a member of the Executive Leadership Council at Sun. In 1999, she was honored with a YWCA TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) Award.

“My career in the computer industry spanned almost 30 years. Over that time, I developed many leading-edge products. I’m very proud of the creation of the SUN Blueprints program. This program started with three or four books addressing specific solution issues for customer system engineers. This program has grown to over two dozen books and is still going strong.”

Anne is now enrolled as a part- time graduate student in biology at Purdue, where her daughter is a senior in the College of Liberal Arts. Keeping true to her scientific nature, Anne says, “I am very interested in neurobiology and the causes and cures for mental illnesses. These diseases affect most families at some time or other, yet they remain poorly understood and treatment is often more of an art than a science.”

Anne and her husband Tom, also a Purdue graduate, are members of the Purdue Parents Council. Anne says, “The Parents Council is helping other Purdue parents get involved with Purdue and raising funds to help support activities that provide our students with a more well-rounded education.” Active in a variety of volunteer activities, Anne serves as the chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Anne and Tom helped fundraising activities for Purdue Habitat for Humanity the past two years. “Recently I have been a member of the Science Women of Purdue Steering Committee. To help focus on the great legacy of women science grads of Purdue, we are raising funds to name a portion of one of Purdue’s new science buildings for the Science Women of Purdue.” Anne, her husband and daughter split their time between West Lafayette and Santa Barbara, California.

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