Bruk Berhane

Bruk Berhane is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Education at the School of Universal Computing, Construction and Engineering Education, Florida International University, where he contributes to advancing equity and inclusion in engineering education. His work is deeply informed by his prior leadership roles in engineering recruitment and scholarship programs at the University of Maryland and research experience at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

His research focuses on broadening participation in engineering, particularly through community college pathways and institutional strategies that support underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities. He investigates how post-traditional student learners navigate engineering education and how inclusive cultures can be developed within academic institutions. His scholarship emphasizes reducing time-to-degree for transfer students and improving access for diverse populations.

Bruk's research agenda is shaped by both national data and qualitative studies, including an NSF-funded project on Black engineering transfer students and a current NSF CAREER study exploring partnerships between community colleges and historically Black colleges and universities. These efforts highlight systemic barriers and opportunities for policy and practice improvements in engineering education.

He has presented on the untapped potential of community colleges in diversifying the engineering workforce, advocating for structural changes that recognize non-traditional pathways. His work bridges research, administration, and pedagogy to create more equitable outcomes in engineering education.

Bruk earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Engineering Management from the George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Minority and Urban Education from the University of Maryland. His multidisciplinary background equips him to address complex challenges in engineering education through research-informed practice.

• B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland
• M.S., Engineering Management, George Washington University
• Ph.D., Minority and Urban Education, University of Maryland