WHEREAS, Irma Becerra, Ph.D., was selected as the seventh president of Marymount University on July 1, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Irma Becerra holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Miami and was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Florida International University; and
WHEREAS, prior to joining Marymount University, Irma Becerra worked in the private sector, then joined Florida International University as a tenured professor in management information systems and later as director, vice provost, and vice president of the Entrepreneurship Center; she subsequently served as provost and chief academic officer at St. Thomas University; and
WHEREAS, while at Florida International University, Irma Becerra founded the University's Knowledge Management Lab and served as principal investigator on projects with the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Air Force Research Laboratory; and
WHEREAS, Irma Becerra has authored four books and numerous refereed journal articles in the areas of knowledge management and business intelligence, and has conducted extensive research in such diverse areas as enterprise systems, disaster management, and IT entrepreneurship, making her a sought-after speaker and presenter nationally and internationally; and
WHEREAS, Irma Becerra's focus on expanding access to education for students and targeting programming to meet societal needs and changing demographics, as well as her commitment to scholarship and innovation, will significantly benefit Marymount University; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Irma Becerra, Ph.D., hereby be commended on the occasion of her selection as the seventh president of Marymount University; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Irma Becerra, Ph.D., as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her commitment to education.