Bernal joins UMCI as an experienced leader with more than 16 years of facility operations experience, most recently at Walsh College and Wayne State University. He’s overseen operating budgets ranging from $1.75 million to $8 million.
His comprehensive knowledge of facility operations includes campus security, space management, grounds and custodial services, vendor contract administration, and building automation systems.
Most recently at Walsh College, Bernal served on the executive leadership team as the director of facilities operations. He facilitated a community of budget, sustainability, strategic planning, and collaboration, which resulted in over $90,000 in operational reductions.
Bernal says he likes being part of the university’s mission in Detroit. “I like the outreach in that we’re going to the city of Detroit for a specific reason – we want to have a direct impact on people’s lives locally.”
The facility will have a large role in community outreach. “We want everybody to come in. We want everybody to feel welcome, and we want everybody to feel safe.”
He earned a Bachelor’s of Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Digital Communications and Cyber Security from the University of Michigan. He is pursuing a Master’s in Science Management in Organizational Leadership at Walsh College.