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Science Education Leader Dr. Maria Vaz Named Trustee
January 16, 2012
One of America's most versatile and innovative
engineering-education leaders, Dr. Maria Vaz has brought her
expertise and insights to a position on the board of trustees of
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the nation's top-ranked
institution for undergraduate engineering.
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Dr. Maria Vaz |
Over the past 28 years at Michigan's Lawrence Technological
University, Dr. Vaz has shepherded the development of new programs
and the use of technology in teaching as a physics professor, chair
of the Department of Natural Sciences, interim dean of the College
of Engineering, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,
dean of graduate programs, associate provost, and since 2006 as
provost and chief academic office.
"Dr. Vaz's insight and experience will be invaluable as she
joins our trustees in leading Rose-Hulman to becoming a great
institution and worldwide leader in engineering, science and math
education," said Rose-Hulman President Matt Branam. "She is a
strong advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math) education as a key component to America's new economy."
Vaz has been a leader in Lawrence Tech's efforts to
enhance science education in primary, middle and high schools, and
was the lead administrator overseeing a partnership with Ferndale
Public Schools (Mich.) to launch and develop programs for the
innovative University High School. Under Vaz's leadership, Lawrence
Tech introduced many new academic initiatives including the
university's first doctorate program, a chemical biology program as
part of bachelor's degree program in biomedical engineering, a
bachelor's program in robotics engineering, a media communications
program, and a master's degree program in educational technology.
She also has established international partnerships and agreements
in Europe, India, Middle East, Korea, China and Canada
Vaz was co-presenter on a session examining the topic "A Model
of Engineering Education to Prepare Engineers for the 21st Century"
at the International Conference on Advanced Research and
Applications in Mechanical Engineering at Beirut, Lebanon in June
2011.
Vaz and her husband, Nuno, who also holds a doctorate in
physics, have three children.