Edward G. Borbely
Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs
709 Extension Building
432 N Lake St
Madison, WI 53706 OR
2610 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706
borbely@wisc.edu
(608) 263-0982
Ed Borbely became associate dean for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in summer 2019. In this role, he oversees the Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs. Working collaboratively with engineering academic departments, campus units and industry, he leads the development, marketing and delivery of lifelong learning opportunities, including professional and online degree programs, on-campus accelerated master’s degree programs, and non-credit programs.
Borbely’s leadership in establishing online learning capabilities, developing new interdisciplinary programs, and building relationships with faculty, academic leaders, and employers has benefitted students and communities on campus, regionally and around the globe since 1984. He has served as associate dean and executive director of graduate and professional education in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis. There, he led the development and delivery of interdisciplinary and professional programs in engineering, management, technology, healthcare, and organizational leadership for both on-campus and online students. He collaborated closely with department chairs and faculty to launch new degree and certificate programs and to increase core faculty engagement in learning design and innovation, strategic planning and implementation, curriculum development, and improved learning outcomes.
For the 21 years prior, he served in a variety of increasingly responsible roles at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he was director of the Integrative Systems and Design Division and its predecessor units, including InterPro and the Center for Professional Development in the College of Engineering. At Michigan, he spearheaded and directed all aspects of technology development for the College of Engineering’s online learning systems, enrollment services, digital marketing, operations, and the administration of many successful professional programs serving students both on-campus and online in Europe, Asia, and throughout the Americas. He also led and managed efforts to engage faculty, staff, and global client organizations to create eight successful master’s programs, including those in systems engineering and design, energy systems, and design science, and more than 100 short courses and professional development programs for working professionals throughout the world.
In addition, Borbely previously was director of off-campus education in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University in New York, where he was responsible for graduate distance education and other nontraditional programs in engineering. He was a faculty fellow with the New Jersey Department of Higher Education, leading the New Jersey Intercampus Network (NJIN) project. He also has been a consultant on telecommunications, instructional technology and methodology, and distance learning initiatives for a variety of organizations throughout the world, and has served as an executive in three successful edtech startup companies.
Borbely holds a bachelor’s degree in communication, information, and library science from Rutgers University-New Brunswick and a master’s degree from the New York University Interactive Telecommunications Program. He serves on the governing council of the International Association of Continuing Engineering Education. He also has been an active member and leader in several other professional and community organizations.