Faculty Directory

Richard F. Vaz

Associate Professor
Dean, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division
Director, Bangkok Project Center

Office: Project Center, 2nd Floor
Phone: +1-508-831-5344
Fax: +1-508-831-5491
vaz@wpi.edu

Related Information

• Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division
• Bangkok Project Center
• Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Educational Background

• B.S., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1979
• M.S., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1984
• Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1987
  

Research & Teaching Interests

Internationalization of technological education; technology/society studies; curricular reform; sustainability and appropriate design.

IQP Advising Interests

Air pollution; water pollution; soil pollution; natural resource management; solid waste; competition for open space; energy politics; energy policy; environmental impact statements; redevelopment of urban areas; conservation of open space planning; transportation planning; resource management; preservation of agricultural lands; effect of technology on social systems; technology & organizational behaviors; international comparisons; social cost & social change; impact of technical change on job & business; economics in developing countries; housing & urbanization; appropriate technology; assessments of college life, including WPI; consumer awareness; introducing new teaching materials; assessing educational experience; education & technological literacy

Recent Publications

• Vaz, Richard, and Chrysanthe Demetry, "Recruitment, Mentoring, and Development of STEM Faculty to Lead International Programs," Proceedings of the 40th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, October 2010.

• Demetry, Chrysanthe, and Richard Vaz, "Evaluation of Intercultural Learning in an Education Abroad Program for STEM Undergraduates," Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 2010.

• Vaz, Richard, "Scalable and Sustainable Programs for Internationalizing US Engineering Education: Are They Achievable?" Proceedings of the ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education, Cape Town, South Africa, October 2008.

• Drew, Christine, and Richard F. Vaz, "Global Projects Preparation: Infusing Information Literacy into Project-Based Curricula at Worcester Polytechnic Institute," Proceedings of the ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education, Cape Town, South Africa, October 2008.

• Mello, Natalie, and Richard Vaz, "Fulfilling ABET Outcomes by Sending Students Away," Proceedings of ASEE 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 2007.

View detailed list

Honors & Awards

• Eta Kappa Nu Outstanding EE Professor Award, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2006
• Joseph Samuel Satin Distinguished Fellow, 1991-92
• WPI Trustees Award for Outstanding Teaching, 1993
• Alpha Phi Omega Service to Students Award, 1997
• EMSEP WPI Faculty Member of the Year, 1998
• Tau Beta Pi (now WPI Trustees) Award for Outstanding Academic Advising, 1999
• Eta Kappa Nu Award for Outstanding Contributions to the ECE Department, 2000
• Sigma Phi Epsilon Faculty Appreciation Award, 2001 and 2003
• Senior Fellow, Association of American Colleges & Universities, 2004
• Winner of over 20 awards for outstanding student project advising

Years of Service at WPI

• 1983 - 1987: Instructor.
• 1987 - 1990: Visiting Assistant Professor.
• 1990 - 1994: Assistant Professor.
• 1994 - Present: Associate Professor.
• 1998 - 2006: Associate Dean, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division.
• 2006 - Present: Dean, Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division.

Professional Societies/Memberships

• Senior Member, IEEE
• IEEE Education, International, and Social Implications of Technology Societies
• American Society for Engineering Education
• Senior Science Fellow, Association of American Colleges & Universities
• US Mobility in Asia-Pacific Advisory Board
• Eta Kappa Nu
• Sigma Xi
• Tau Beta Pi