Mary Kay Camarillo

Dr. Camarillo specializes in environmental engineering, specifically in water and wastewater treatment. Dr. Camarillo grew up in Seattle and graduated with a BS in civil engineering. After graduation she moved to the Portland, OR area and worked in industry. As a consulting engineer she worked on planning, designing, and providing construction services for water and wastewater infrastructure. During this time, she also became a licensed Professional Engineer.

Although she loved working, Dr. Camarillo wanted to further her education so she returned to school after working in industry for seven years. While only planning to pursue a MS degree, Dr. Camarillo found that she really enjoyed academic work and completed both MS and PhD degrees at the University of California, Davis. During that time, she was advised by Jeannie Darby and Frank Loge.

Since coming to Pacific in 2009 Dr. Camarillo has embraced the teacher-scholar role. In the classroom she encourages active participation and students may find themselves testing water quality, analyzing ethics case studies, learning new software, visiting the local treatment plant, or making concrete. Dr. Camarillo values engineering education and encourages students to make the most of their experience in school. She also advises students in research studies and independent projects.

At Pacific Dr. Camarillo continues to be an active researcher. She collaborates with scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and works on projects related to biomass energy, water quality in the San Joaquin River, sewer odors, and environmental impacts of oil/gas production. Her scholarly work focuses on environmental issues in California. One notable project involved compiling scientific data on well stimulation in California to assist the state legislature in policy implementation. Dr. Camarillo also collaborates with the McGeorge School of Law to host the Tchobanoglous Water Lecture Series, an event focusing on interdisciplinary topics related to water.

In her personal time Dr. Camarillo enjoys spending time with her family that includes a husband and two teenage daughters. She lives in Stockton and enjoys spending time in the community. Her hobbies include yoga, reading, cooking, and watching international TV shows.