Learn More About Dr. Maya!

Meet Dr. Maya

Ice Cream Scientist🍦 | The Amazing Race Winner🥇| Speaker🎤

Often described as un-bounding and contagious energy, Dr. Maya has a true zest for life shown by her positive and fun-loving attitude. She is a native of St. Louis, MO and always had a love for science. She attended Rosati-Kain High School and took a liking to chemistry during her junior year. This led her to major in chemistry at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. She was inspired to pursue a career in Food Science from watching Unwrapped on Food Network and after an internship at a cereal company, she was hooked!

She obtained her PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison in Food Science in 2015 under professor Richard W. Hartel. There she found her love for the science of ice cream and other frozen aerated deserts. Her scientific expertise lies in the microstructure, behavioral, and sensorial properties of ice cream and other frozen aerated desserts. She also won the 25th season of The Amazing Race with her friend and former lab mate, Dr. Amy DeJong.

Since then, Dr. Maya has become a world traveler. She enjoys working out and shopping in her free time and is an advocate for self-care and treating yourself. She is currently the lead Ice Cream Scientist for Coldstone Creamery and enjoys speaking about sweet treats in her free time.

Get in touch with Dr. Maya & follow her travels.