This school year, Prep welcomes Dr. Bruno to our teaching staff. He comes with a wide range of experiences from serving in the navy, teaching and working in leadership development. Dr. Bruno has had an interest- ing and rich career path, which makes him a great addition to our community.
Dr. Bruno’s story begins in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he spent most of his childhood after being born in Maine. His academic journey led him to Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he pursued a major in American Studies as well as competing in baseball at the collegiate level. Reflecting on his college years, Dr. Bruno notes, “I took a lot of classes with ‘American’ in the title, diving into English, history, and political science.”
After Amherst, Dr. Bruno joined the Navy through Officer Candidate School (OCS), where he gained valuable leadership experience. Following his service, he returned to the school world, coaching base- ball at Cornell University. Though he enjoyed coaching, he realized his true calling lay in teaching leadership and management. This realization led him to pursue a PhD, program at Cornell and lat- er at the University of Virginia (UVA), where he studied under renowned professors who inspired him to combine his interests in leadership and academia.
Dr. Bruno’s teaching career began at James Madison University (JMU), where he served as an assistant professor at the business school, teaching management and interperson- al communications. However, a new chapter opened when his wife received a job offer from Johns Hopkins University. Relocating to DC, Dr. Bruno left academia to start his own company focused on leadership development for student-athletes.
Now at Prep, Dr. Bruno teaches macroeconomics and would also like to start a leadership program here at Prep. “I’m excited to explore leadership education opportuni- ties here,” he says. “I could see myself being a resource for students interested in leadership ideas and discussions.”
Beyond his professional life, Dr. Bruno is an avid reader with many tastes. “I enjoy reading sci-fi, Americana literature, and anything with an unreliable narrator,” he shares. “My favorites these days are Ted Chiang, Isaac Asimov, Larry McMurtry, and Kazuo Ishig- uro, but I’m always open to suggestions from my students!” When he’s not buried in a book, you can find Dr. Bruno enjoying var- ious sports, particularly baseball and golf, or indulging in his newfound interest in 1980s spy non-fiction inspired by the TV show The Americans.
Dr. Bruno is optimistic about his fu- ture here in Prep. “The students here are sharp and motivated, and the faculty is incredibly supportive. It’s been a fantastic ex- perience so far,” he says. Although his plans beyond this semester are still unknown, Dr. Bruno is focused on making the most of his time here and contributing to the Prep community.
Prep is fortunate to have Dr. Bruno on board, and we look forward to seeing the impact he will undoubtedly have on both students and faculty alike. Welcome to Prep, Dr. Bruno.
