Dee Wilhelm
Dee, a proud alumna of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), is a visionary educator and STEM champion who has made a lasting impact across both private and public education sectors. As the mastermind behind the XRP curriculum and its professional development programs, Dee has transformed how students engage with robotics and hands-on STEM learning. She has meticulously developed, tested, and iterated the curriculum with a keen focus on neurodivergent learners, ensuring that every student can explore, experiment, and succeed in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Her work with XRP goes beyond curriculum design—Dee has created comprehensive professional development experiences that empower educators to bring robotics, coding, and engineering principles into their classrooms with confidence. Her approach combines practical innovation with accessibility, allowing students and teachers alike to thrive in a collaborative, problem-solving mindset.
Dee’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the heart of her work. She believes STEM should be accessible to all students, regardless of background or learning style, and has consistently championed initiatives that break down barriers and expand opportunities. Through her leadership, students gain not only technical skills but also creativity, confidence, and a passion for discovery that extends far beyond the classroom.
With a career marked by innovation, collaboration, and impact, Dee continues to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders, ensuring that robotics and engineering education are as inclusive, engaging, and transformative as possible.
Brad Miller
Brad is a retired WPI employee and the visionary behind the XRP robot, bringing decades of robotics expertise to the project. From the earliest interactions to the latest classroom deployments, Brad has kept his feet on the ground, ensuring the XRP robot is both practical and educationally impactful. His hands-on approach has been central to the robot’s design, development, and real-world application.
Brad is the founder of WPILib, the cornerstone library that powers countless FRC Robots, and he has led the development of the XRP-based coding libraries that make programming accessible to students of all skill levels. Beyond the technology, Brad has been instrumental in forging key partnerships with organizations like FIRST, SparkFun and DEKA, creating the collaborative ecosystem that allows XRP to thrive in classrooms around the world.
A long-term FIRST volunteer and supporter, Brad has dedicated years to mentoring students, judging competitions, and fostering the growth of STEM programs. His passion for hands-on learning and youth development extends beyond the XRP project, helping to inspire creativity, problem-solving, and leadership in the next generation of innovators.
Even in retirement, Brad continues to serve as a mentor and leader, guiding students, educators, and fellow developers, ensuring that XRP not only teaches coding and robotics but also builds confidence and curiosity in young minds.
