Luciana R. Barroso

Luciana R. Barroso, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, holds BA. and B.S. degrees from Rice University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. She joined the Texas A&M University (TAMU) faculty in the fall of 1999.

Research Areas
Dr. Barroso’s research is broadly divided into two categories: structural engineering and engineering education. Her engineering education research spans K-12 through university level education and focuses on active learning and project-enhanced learning, high-impact learning activities, and STEM project-based learning.

Dr. Barroso’s structural engineering research specializes in the areas of structural control and performance, structural health monitoring and system identification, earthquake hazard mitigation, and both linear and nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures. She has also worked in the areas of probabilistic hazard analysis and historic structures.

Teaching and Mentoring:
Her teaching talent and mentoring has been recognized both by her department and nationally. As one colleague states, Dr. Barroso regarded as someone who demonstrates “impressive skill, dedication and commitment to her students learning.” She has taught a wide range of different courses while at Texas A&M University and is constantly trying to refine and improve those courses. Her research interest have expanded in include engineering education since joining the faculty.

She is known in the department as someone who will challenge her students to exceed their expectations and to actually understand the course material rather than “just get through it.” As one student states “while this is a notoriously difficult course in our department, with the instruction and support from Dr. Barroso, I not only survived it, I thrived in it.” Another student declared that “one of the most important components to successfully completing the course is the availability of Dr. Barroso and her WONDERFULLY structured and organized teaching style. She provided a really welcoming atmosphere where we could all work together.” She is highly regarded both in and out of the classroom due to her dedication to her role as both teacher and mentor.