Dr. Rick Vaz

Richard F. Vaz is Professor of Integrative and Global Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He earned the BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from WPI, and has served on the WPI faculty since 1987. From 2006 to 2016 Rick served as Dean of Interdisciplinary and Global Studies, overseeing the Interactive Qualifying Project, an interdisciplinary research project requirement, and the Global Projects Program, a worldwide network of 50 centers where more than 1000 students and faculty per year address problems for local agencies and organizations. In 2016, he established WPI’s Center for Project-Based Learning, which has provided support to over 160 colleges and universities looking to enhance student learning with project experiences.

Rick’s interests include experiential and global learning, faculty development, curricular reform, and institutional change. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed or invited publications and directed student research projects in 15 locations worldwide, including Australia, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Namibia, Puerto Rico, and Thailand. From 2004 to 2010 he was a Senior Science Fellow of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. In 2016 he was awarded the National Academy of Engineering’s Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education

Currently: Co-Director, Center for Project-Based Learning, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Formerly: (1) Dean, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, (2) Systems and Design Engineer, Raytheon Company, GenRad Inc., and MITRE Corporation, etc.

Education: (1) 1987 – Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, (2) 1984 – M.S., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, (3) 1979 – B.S., Worcester Polytechnic Institute.