CoSE Dean Carmen Domingo honored for fostering next generation of biotech talent

Domingo was named a BLOC100 Luminary in recognition of her contributions to Bay Area biopharma

Biopharma Leaders of Color (BLOC) named SFSU College of Science & Engineering (CoSE) Dean Carmen Domingo as a BLOC100 Luminary. The honor recognizes 100 women of color and their allies for their meaningful contributions to biopharma, health care and life sciences. 

BLOC is a nonprofit community and innovation hub dedicated to empowering professionals of color across industries to reach their highest potential, supporting individuals at every stage of their career. The organization is committed to being an inclusive organization open to everyone who shares their mission. They host events such as a J.P. Morgan reception where SFSU students and alumni have shared their research and networked. 

“I am deeply honored for this recognition and for the opportunity to work with so many wonderful colleagues to continue breaking barriers and expanding opportunities to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone," said Domingo. 

She leads CoSE, which has over 6,500 students across many departments and schools. CoSE has more than 46,000 diverse graduates who have an important presence in local industries. Eighty percent of CoSE alumni live in the Bay Area, and 8% of the largest Bay Area biopharma companies are SFSU alumni. 

Domingo oversaw the construction of a new Science and Engineering Innovation Center, which opened in 2025. Industry partners such as the Genentech, Gilead Foundation and Agilent were among the generous donors outfitting the building with cutting-edge equipment and providing support for student initiatives and programming. This has led to programs such as the Gilead Innovation Initiative at SFSU supporting student researchers.

Domingo became CoSE’s dean in March 2019 and is the first woman to hold the office in the college’s history. She started at SFSU in 1997 as a Department of Biology faculty member and served as associate chair of the department from 2007 to 2015. During her tenure, she’s led grants from the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and other agencies, often establishing programs that focus on equity, diversity and inclusion. She has led or supported SFSU programs such as the CIRM-Bridges, SF BUILD and more. 

“The College provides exceptional academic and research opportunities that prepare students for success in biopharma and beyond. Our diverse graduates — most of them local — build their careers in the Bay Area, providing the talent that is essential to a thriving life sciences ecosystem,” said Domingo. 

Learn more about the College of Science & Engineering.