From 1978 to 2002, he was adjunct instructor of management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and held a variety of administrative roles, including director of auxiliary services and assistant vice president for special initiatives.

His doctoral dissertation is titled A Comparative Analysis of Comments from Faculty Members of Selected Public and Private Universities in Mississippi and Louisiana to Determine the Degree of Job Satisfaction as Related to the Variables of Institution, Gender, and Race.

[7] In a 2013 article Bruno commented on various attributes of his background including his upbringing as an Italian American, relatives, and positive associations with the Phil Robertson family and others in the Monroe area.

"[11] Bruno had the support of Monroe's city administration and local and state officials who cited financial concerns in urging his appointment[12] as competition for the position was intense.

[citation needed] Monroe's NBC affiliate KTVE Channel 10 televised interviews with students after Bruno's appointment.