A single classroom full of engineering students can have unlimited potential for future impact on the planet. From highways to heart monitors, engineers have a hand in creating and maintaining technology and solutions in all corners of our communities. With this high potential comes high stakes, which is why Marquette’s Opus College of Engineering is committed to providing educational experiences that prepare students to lead and serve to the best of their abilities.
Driving this college-wide effort is Dr. Homero Murzi, director of engineering education programs and associate professor of mechanical engineering. Murzi, an accomplished engineering leader with experience in academia and industry, joined Marquette in August 2024.
In addition to leading programs for Marquette faculty and students, Murzi’s work is focused on influencing the wider field of engineering education and positioning Marquette as a source of expertise and new knowledge for all institutions educating the engineering workforce of tomorrow.
In a Q&A, Murzi discusses the latest developments in his work and his vision for 2025 and beyond.
What motivates your work in engineering education?
We are at a crucial moment in engineering education across the country and around the world, and Marquette can play a strategic role in its development.
I am passionate about equipping engineering educators with pedagogical tools to develop engineering competencies that are important to the future of industry. I am also passionate about creating effective and inclusive learning environments for engineers and using research-based best practices to increase learning within engineering classrooms. My impact resides in my research-to-practice approach to training engineering students who are ready for the complexities of the workforce.
At the core of any educational system is the interaction of content, competency development and pedagogy. Aligning engineering content and competency development with our external environment is key. Put simply, our classrooms need to align with current and future industry trends and opportunities.
My research focuses on three main areas: improving curricular design using research-based practices, faculty and graduate student development, and a different approach to competency development in engineering.
In addition to supporting educators, you are also teaching and creating new programs directly with students. Can you share some of your latest work with students?
I am excited to be leading Marquette’s first “Global Engineering” course, which also includes the opportunity for students to travel overseas for two weeks in May.
Engineering is a profession that is becoming increasingly global. Advancements in technology have made the world a more connected place, and global teams are becoming more common in engineering companies with sites and stakeholders around the world. Our students need to be able to understand what it means to operate in a global environment and have the cultural awareness to collaborate with international colleagues, customers and communities.
In our Global Engineering course, students are exploring some of the pressing issues that are affecting citizens from around the world. We ask them to examine the local political, technical, social and environmental influences on potential solutions. We are also exploring the experiences of engineers around the world and discussing effective teamwork and leadership strategies for multicultural global engineering environments.
What excites me the most about the class is the study abroad option in May. We will travel with engineering students to Italy and Germany to experience first-hand some of the topics we are discussing in the classroom. It will be a great opportunity to expose students to international global engineering practice.
We plan to continue growing the global and study abroad initiatives for engineers. I aspire to provide students with year-round programs that are targeted to their needs. I also hope we can incorporate best research practices in these programs and conduct education research as a way of ensuring we are not only providing students with great opportunities but also advancing engineering education nationwide.
What other projects or initiatives are you excited to lead at Marquette?
I am also excited about creating an engineering education graduate program at Marquette. Engineering education as a field has been growing exponentially in the United States and the world. However, there are no engineering education programs at private, Jesuit Institutions and no programs in the area. I would like for us to be the pioneers to bring such an innovative program to Wisconsin and to be able to develop it in a way that has a long-term positive impact on Marquette, Wisconsin and the country. I think this is a unique opportunity to build a different program with many competitive advantages and a unique value proposition.
Individuals and organizations interested in learning more about Murzi’s work or exploring opportunities to collaborate are encouraged to reach out via email at homero.murzi@marquette.edu.
