Faculty In Focus: Dr. Maricla Pirozzi Quartey Emphasizes the Human Side of Engineering
When Dr. Maricla Pirozzi Quartey invites former students to speak in her classroom, many share a similar message. They say technical skills got them in the door, but communication, confidence, and emotional intelligence helped them advance.
For Dr. Pirozzi Quartey, those conversations reinforce a belief that has guided both her career and her approach to graduate education. The engineers who make the most impact, she says, are often those who can work as effectively with people as with technology.
“Technical skills will evolve. Technologies will change. Entire industries will transform,” Dr. Pirozzi Quartey says. “What will continue to matter is how people communicate, solve problems, work with others, and respond to challenges. ”
As a director within the Software Engineering & Information Systems unit and adjunct faculty at Northeastern University’s College of Engineering (COE) in Miami, Dr. Pirozzi Quartey helps students develop these transferable skills through curriculum design, classroom instruction, and mentorship.
From global business leader to Northeastern Miami faculty member
By the time Dr. Pirozzi Quartey joined Northeastern University in early 2017, she had built a career spanning countries, industries, and disciplines.
Born and raised in Italy, Dr. Pirozzi Quartey later moved to Ireland, where she worked in corporate software sales and enterprise technology. Those experiences, she says, exposed her to fast-paced international organizations, complex client relationships, and the realities of how businesses adjust to change and innovation. They also illustrated, firsthand, the value of understanding people, not just products.
“Emotional intelligence is equally important because innovation requires empathy, flexibility, and self-awareness,” Dr. Pirozzi Quartey says. “Engineers need to understand the people they are designing for, the teams they are working with, and the broader consequences of the technologies they create.”
A move to the U.S. in 2010 became a major turning point in Dr. Pirozzi Quartey’s career. Starting over in another new country, she says, gave her a deeper appreciation for adaptability, cultural diversity, and the importance of creating opportunities for others.
This insight — combined with more than a decade of experience in management, software sales, and consulting — made her transition to higher education feel like a natural next step.
“Looking back, the common thread throughout my career has always been connecting people, opportunity and education in meaningful ways,” Dr. Pirozzi Quartey says. “I have always been passionate about helping people grow into their potential.”
Facilitating multidisciplinary engineering education
At Northeastern University in Miami, Dr. Pirozzi Quartey brings together lessons from industry, a passion for connecting people with opportunities, and the belief that engineering is inherently collaborative.
Today’s engineering professionals work across cultures, industries, and functions while often communicating complex ideas to non-technical audiences, she says. As a result, graduate education must cultivate leadership and business awareness alongside technical depth.
One example of this is INFO 7385, a communication and leadership course Dr. Pirozzi Quartey teaches. Rather than focusing on general leadership, INFO 7385 explores how engineers communicate, collaborate, and lead within multifaceted technical and organizational environments. It’s here, she says, that many students begin to recognize the value of skills that complement their engineering knowledge.
“What I especially love is when alumni come back to speak to current students,” she says. “Those conversations make a lasting impact because current students see professionals who once sat in the same classroom now leading teams, managing projects, and navigating real-world challenges.”
The forward-looking emphasis extends to program development. To keep pace with emerging trends and workplace demands, Dr. Pirozzi Quartey says Northeastern University has made a significant investment in AI. As students learn to use AI tools, systems, and applications, they are also challenged to think critically about infrastructure, ethics, security, and real-world implementation.
“At the same time, we emphasize that AI is not replacing engineers. It is amplifying them,” she says. “Engineers still need strong human judgment to validate outputs, manage risk, and lead innovation responsibly. We must prepare students not only for the jobs that exist today, but also for roles and industries that may not yet fully exist.”
One-on-one support that makes a difference
While much of Dr. Pirozzi Quartey’s work focuses on preparing students for the realities of modern engineering careers, another important aspect of her role happens outside the classroom.
Through her doctoral research and coaching practice, she has spent years helping students — particularly those with ADHD — build confidence, strengthen organizational skills, and develop strategies for success. Her research explores new instructional strategies and tools to teach and empower college students with ADHD, while her coaching practice helps individuals recognize and build on their strengths. Ultimately, Dr. Pirozzi Quartey says, inclusive support benefits all learners.
Her commitment to student support earned her Northeastern University’s Model Mentor and Coach Award and the COE Dean’s Award for Meritorious Service in 2025.
“Meaningful mentorship starts with genuinely caring about students as people, not just as students,” says Dr. Pirozzi Quartey. “Graduate students are often balancing careers, immigration challenges, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and major life transitions all at once. “Sometimes, what they need most is someone who listens, encourages them, and helps them see possibilities they may not yet see in themselves. Talent exists everywhere, but students thrive when they feel supported, understood, and challenged.”
By: Izabela Shubair