Dr. Paul Hirtz has been named interim director of Missouri S&T’s Student Design and Experiential Learning Center effective Nov. 26.

In this position, he will oversee the center’s student design competition operations, work with campus units to achieve campus goals, and work to secure funding for design activities.

“The university is most appreciative of Dr. Hirtz’s leadership contributions and willingness to accept this critical role in support of student experiential learning and Missouri S&T,” said Chancellor John F. Carney III.

Hirtz has been affiliated with the design center since April 2000, first as a project manager and later as assistant director. As interim director, he assumes the role previously filled by former SDELC director Dr. Robert Stone, professor of interdisciplinary engineering.

Hirtz holds three engineering management degrees from Missouri S&T – a bachelor of science (received in 1995), master of science (1997) and Ph.D. (2002). As an S&T student, he was involved with the campus’s Solar Car Team, serving as team president from January 1995 through August 1997 and as a project manager for the team from 1995-1999.

The Student Design and Experiential Learning Center funds 10 nationally competitive student design and service-learning teams, such as Engineers Without Borders. These teams involve more than 500 students from various campus departments.

The center also provides support and resources to special, multi-disciplinary project teams that have a research base to their activities. The SDELC offers academic credit opportunities in the form of three one-hour classes on design, leadership and communication. The center also offers a half-credit course through the Residential College program on experiential design to more than 100 students each semester.