Paul Borens has been named affiliate director of Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and director of STEM at Milwaukee School of Engineering. MSOE is the National Affiliate University for PLTW in the state of Wisconsin. Borens will oversee statewide PLTW efforts, provide state leadership to increase student interest in STEM-related fields and coordinate all STEM programming at MSOE.

Borens most recently was a senior consultant with Ruffalo Noel Levitz Inc. where he was responsible for providing financial aid analysis and strategy to colleges and universities. He previously served as dean of admission and financial aid at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin and director of admission at MSOE.

“During my 19 years in higher education, I had the opportunity to work with more than 35 colleges and universities. I have seen first-hand that those who focus on STEM education are truly going to ensure the success of students,” said Borens. “I’m privileged to return to MSOE and partner with K-12 educators to promote STEM educational and career opportunities through PLTW and MSOE’s precollege programming.”

PLTW provides transformative learning experiences for K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. Through hands-on STEM activities, projects and problems, students are empowered to solve real-world challenges. This past summer alone, more than 800 K-12 teachers attended training at MSOE where they learned the complete curriculum for a PLTW course. There are 564 schools in Wisconsin that teach PLTW courses, where students are discovering first-hand engineering and technology and the important roles they play in our everyday lives. MSOE has been involved in PLTW since 2004.