Bruce Burke

Bruce Burke is a "double" alumnus of the University of Arizona and an enthusiastic supporter of the Franke Honors College. As an undergraduate in what was then the University’s Honors Program, he served on the Honors Student Planning Board. While serving, he and four other student board members authored the University’s first formal proposal to establish an Honors College. He was appointed as a student representative on the National Collegiate Honors Council. He also served as an Executive Assistant to the ASUA Student Body President.

In 1971 Bruce received a Bachelor of Science degree with High Distinction and a minor with Honors in English Literature. In 1975 he received a Juris Doctor degree from the College of Law. While in law school he authored two articles for the Arizona law Review. Bruce practiced law in Tucson for forty-two years as a civil trial and appellate attorney, until his retirement in 2017. While in practice he served as lead counsel in numerous complex civil cases, with emphasis on class actions involving wrongful denial of insurance coverage, student loan scams and consumer fraud claims. In the 1980’s he served two terms on the National Governing Board of Common Cause, a citizen’s lobby. He also served as the first Chair of Arizona Common Cause.

From 2003 to 2010 Bruce served as an elected member of the Tucson Unified School District School Governing Board and was board President in 2005. In 2019 he returned to the board for one year as an appointed member to complete the term of board member who resigned. Bruce is a board member on the Marshall Foundation and the John and Helen Murphey Foundation, both of which devote their charitable resources to local community needs, with an emphasis public education. Bruce joined the University of Arizona Honors Advisory Board in 2010 and currently serves as its Chair. In retirement he enjoys reading, fly fishing, and biking, hiking, and traveling with his spouse Melinda.