Becerra is the seventh president of Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Becerra is known for expanding educational access for students and creating programs to meet societal needs and changing demographics. She has blended mathematics, engineering and systems thinking and processes into her academic career. An educator who began her career in the private sector and the holder of four patents and copyrights, Becerra is an ardent advocate for a STEM-educated workforce and holds the mindset of a trained scientist and seasoned entrepreneur. A Cuban-born American, Becerra immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was an infant, living in Puerto Rico through high school. Those formative experiences imbued her with a passion for knowledge along with a deep-seated belief that “no one can take away your education.” She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Miami and became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Florida International University (FIU). Prior to Marymount, she served as provost and chief academic officer at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida and also spent three decades at FIU in a variety of positions that include vice president, vice provost, entrepreneurship center director and tenured professor in management information systems. Becerra has authored four books and numerous journal articles in the areas of knowledge management and business intelligence. Her original research has also spanned such areas as enterprise systems, disaster management and IT entrepreneurship, making her a sought-after speaker and presenter both in the U.S. and internationally.
