John Via

Dr. Via is an international executive with extensive general management experience leading operations in North and South America, Europe and Asia, primarily in the pharmaceutical, medical device and chemical manufacturing industries. He has experience in both global business and academic leadership.

Dr. Via has 30 years of industrial experience in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries spending the last 20 years at Alcon Laboratories where he served as Vice President of Manufacturing for both the Global Surgical and Global Pharmaceutical & Lens Care Business units. He has a proven track record in manufacturing (internal and contract) operations; design, construction, validation and start-up of new manufacturing plants; technology transfer and new product launches; validation and regulatory compliance in the US and international markets; improving safety and productivity performance; business continuity; organizational development and succession planning; and building and growing cost-competitive organizations. Dr. Via took an early retirement from Alcon in August 2012 following its acquisition by Novartis and joined Drexel in October of 2012. Dr Via currently works for Edwards Lifesciences as a Senior Consultant for their Global Heart Valve Network Group.

Dr. Via is a Drexel alumnus and graduate of the Engineering Management Program at Drexel University, receiving both a M.S. in Chemical Engineering and his M.S. in Engineering Management in the early 1990s. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia, a Master of Engineering Science from Lamar University, and a M.S. Manufacturing Systems Management, a Master of Liberal Arts and a Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University. Dr. Via also completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School, is a registered Professional Engineer (Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Texas) and is also a Professional Engineering Manager.

Dr. Via has served on a variety of for-profit and non-profit board of directors, a number of academic advisory boards. For-profit service included serving on the Board of Directors of a number of Alcon manufacturing subsidiaries. Non-profit service has included serving on the Board of Directors for Alcon’s 401k and Profit Sharing Trust (2007-2012) and the Alcon Foundation (2007-2012), Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County (Finance Committee 2009-2012), Safe Haven of Tarrant County (Finance & Investment Committee 2006-2011), and the Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth & Tarrant County (Director & Investment Committee 2006-2010). Academic Advisory Board current service includes the Chemical Engineering Advisory Board at the University of Virginia and the College of Engineering Advisory Council, Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Advisory Board, Chemical Engineering Advisory Council at Lamar University. Previous academic advisory board experience includes the EMIS Distinguished Advisory Board (2008-2011) and the Associate Board at the Cox School of Business (2002-2004) at Southern Methodist University.