Fatima Alleyne, PhD

Fatima S. Alleyne, PhD, is an engineer, strategist, executive and speaker whose work bridges STEM, leadership and systems-level change. Alleyne earned her doctorate in materials science and engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and has led major initiatives in higher education, federal government and industry-focused consulting, including serving as a director in the College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and as a management and program analyst at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs overseeing elements of a $463 billion enterprise portfolio.

An experienced elected official, Alleyne won a grassroots campaign to serve on the Contra Costa County Board of Education and became the first Black woman to serve as its president. As a trustee, she partnered with elected leaders at the local, state and federal levels to advance sound education policy, increase funding and investments in STEM education, and she led policy reform and critical initiatives during COVID-19. She also served as a county region delegate and advisor on governance and policy with the California School Boards Association and the California County Boards of Education.

As general partner of Blue Isle Insight Partners and founder of women-owned consultancies, Alleyne advises universities, government agencies, nonprofits and corporate partners on strategic planning, inclusive STEM education, courageous leadership and organizational transformation. She has designed and delivered professional development trainings for clients including Harvard University, the University of Southern California, Cornell University, ABET and IEEE.

A frequent keynote, plenary and invited speaker at events such as the World Engineering Education Forum & Global Engineering Deans Council, ASEE, IEEE and APS CUWiP, Alleyne holds certifications in strategic management, project management, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and people management, and has earned honors including the University of California, Berkeley’s Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award, Equity Champion Award and multiple federal and higher education performance awards.