Dr. Irma Becerra is a trailblazing Cuban-American engineer and educator who currently serves as the President of Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Born in Cuba and raised in Puerto Rico, she overcame early challenges to become the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University. Her academic journey, which also includes BS and MS degrees from the University of Miami, laid the foundation for a distinguished career in higher education and technical research.

Before taking the helm at Marymount in 2018, Dr. Becerra held numerous leadership roles at FIU, including Vice Provost and Director of the Entrepreneurship Center, where she founded the Knowledge Management Lab. Her research collaborations with NASA and the Air Force underscore a deep commitment to innovation, while her tenure as Provost at St. Thomas University showed her strategic acumen in navigating academic transformation. At Marymount, she's spearheaded initiatives like the “Momentum” strategic plan, expanded online and doctoral programs, and steered the university through COVID-19 disruptions—all while making it Virginia’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Her influence reaches well beyond campus borders: she's a respected author in knowledge management, a contributor to the Forbes Business Council, and an advocate for educational equity, especially for undocumented students. Honored with multiple awards—including DEI Champion and Top 35 Women in Higher Education—Dr. Becerra brings a rare blend of STEM expertise, visionary leadership, and human-centered policymaking to the future of academia.