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U.S. Department of State Selects PLTW CEO for Speaker-Specialist Program

INDIANAPOLIS - Project Lead The Way President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Vince Bertram has been chosen by the U.S. Department of State as the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education expert for its United States Speaker and Specialist Program.

Due to an “uptake in interest on a range of topics pertaining to STEM education,” the U.S. Department of State recently began a search for a STEM speaker-specialist. A U.S. State Department official noted that Dr. Bertram was identified as the expert for the role “[g]iven his vast experience and world recognition in the field of STEM education.”

”The U.S. Speaker Program promotes an understanding of U.S. policies and institutions, and the political, economic, social, and cultural context from which they arise,” the official said. “U.S. Speakers are selected based on their extensive subject matter expertise and in consultation with U.S. missions abroad.”

As a speaker-specialist for the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Bertram will promote the value of STEM fields and STEM education to various international audiences. Today’s students are growing up in a global world that becomes more connected every day. PLTW views the speaker-specialist role as an opportunity for Dr. Bertram to highlight PLTW’s success, discuss STEM education internationally, learn and share best practices, and gain awareness of other countries’ efforts with regard to STEM education.

“It is truly an honor for PLTW to be identified as America’s foremost authority on STEM education and the workforce,” said Dr. Bertram. “I am proud to represent our organization and the United States on the topic of STEM education – one of the most important topics in our world today.”

Dr. Bertram’s first assignment is in South Korea, scheduled for the second week of April. There, he will meet with various Korean audiences in Seoul, Daejeon, and Busan. In addition to traveling, other speaker-specialist responsibilities may include virtual programs and content development through blogs and publication materials.

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About PLTW Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs. PLTW’s world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. More than 5,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.