Office Location: ECME 122
Research Interests
Food Engineering
Carmen, who immigrated from Mexico as a teenager, brings her rich heritage, culture, and engineering expertise to everything she does. After earning bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona, she worked in the petroleum energy sector as a process engineer. Transitioning to academia, Carmen taught at institutions like UC Davis and Columbia University. In 2010, she joined CU Boulder as an adjunct faculty, all while raising three children, making motherhood her priority. Carmen鈥檚 passion for blending her cultural roots with engineering led her to start a successful food business selling Mexican salsas and moles. She returned to CU Boulder to introduce innovative courses like the Design of Coffee, applying engineering to real-world food processes. In 2023, she launched a food engineering certificate program focusing on specialty foods like coffee and chocolate, highlighting the value added along the supply chain and reflecting her commitment to sustainability, education, and her cultural heritage.