OUR PEOPLE
Academic Credentials
- M.S., Preventive Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1988
- D.V.M., Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines, 1985
Additional Education & Training
- Executive Management Training, University of California, Davis
- Chairperson on Oral Examination Training
Dr. Marylou Verder-Carlos is a Senior Managing Scientist and comes to Ä¢¹½tv following over 20 years of distinguished public service with the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal-EPA). Most recently, Dr. Verder-Carlos served as the Chief Science Advisor and Assistant Director for the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) at Cal-EPA, a position she held for over a decade. As Chief Science Advisor and Assistant Director at DPR, in which she managed a wide array of technical branches totaling several hundred staff, Dr. Verder-Carlos was responsible for the development and execution of clear, consistent, and scientifically sound regulatory policies relating to pesticidal chemicals and products. As part of these responsibilities, she performed a number of functions including (a) leading scientific teams to ensure completion of comprehensive pesticide risk assessments (e.g. chloropicrin, chlorpyrifos, 1,3 dichloropropene and sulfuryl fluoride), (b) reviewing scientific evaluations of data intended for use in pesticide registration, (c) working with regulators, industry and stakeholders in developing practical strategies for pesticide risk mitigation, and (d) coordinating input from all interested parties on interagency actions and regulatory policies to ensure public health and safety from the environmental impacts of pesticides.
In addition to these responsibilities, Dr. Verder-Carlos led a number of specialized, solutions-oriented initiatives intended to address key issues in the area of pesticide science and regulation. For example, Dr. Verder-Carlos initiated a comprehensive review of California's Risk Assessment Process by the National Academy and coordinated completion of that initiative with both Cal-EPA and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). She was also a member of US EPA's key Pesticide Programs Dialogue Committee and chaired the Pollinator Protection Sub-Committee. The subcommittee was comprised of members of the various state agencies, US EPA, industry, beekeepers and non-governmental organizations, highlighting Marylou's ability to build consensus between different stakeholders. Early in her career at DPR, Dr. Verder-Carlos worked with a team of scientists to review and analyze epidemiological data on the human health impacts of pesticide exposures in the State, including reporting and making recommendations on the findings. She also initiated and implemented the worker safety outreach programs for DPR starting with a Farmworker Focus Group in Salinas Valley. That effort was the beginning of improved discussions and communication between regulators, industry and non-governmental organizations across all the programs at DPR. In addition to her time at DPR, Dr. Verder-Carlos previously worked at the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) in their Pesticide Epidemiology Section where she collaborated with numerous state agencies, including those beyond Cal-EPA, and assessed the human health impacts of chemicals, including wide eradication program of public and infrastructure pests [(e.g., Light Brown Apple Moth in California's Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties)]. Dr. Verder-Carlos strives to find solutions to difficult policy issues while ensuring the protection of public health and the environment. She is well-respected by industry and regulatory authorities alike, and has been instrumental in developing, enacting, and maintaining consistent regulatory policies at DPR.