Renee Becker-Blau

As a student in FIRST, Renee Becker-Blau discovered her passion for community building, laying the foundation for a twenty-year journey with the program. Throughout that time, she actively volunteered in all FIRST programs, provided mentorship to over 22 teams, and immersed herself in the fields of youth development and nonprofit management.

Due to these formative experiences, Renee cultivated the belief that every student, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic background, should have the opportunity to choose if they would like to pursue a career in STEM, rather than having that choice predetermined by life circumstances or zip code. Drawing from her personal experiences and as a witness to the transformative power of the FIRST program, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments where students can thrive.
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With a Bachelor's degree in Scientific & Technical Communication and a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management, Renee effectively utilized her expertise to expand student access to the FIRST program, both during her tenure with FIRST Indiana Robotics (2013-2023) and as the current President of FIRST Wisconsin.

A community building, trailblazing, #STEMINIST, she firmly believes that our future is built better together.