Meet American Dream Fund Scholar: Mabel Muñoz

My name is Mabel Munoz, and I am a Dreamer. Although I am now a U.S. citizen and married, being a Dreamer will always be part of who I am.

In 2008, I graduated as valedictorian from Carl Hayden High School. My academic achievements and involvement in school activities qualified me for private scholarships, including from the American Dream Fund. With that support, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University in 2012. During this time, I also attended Gateway Community College and earned both an Associate in Art and an Associate in Science degrees.

Fast-forward twelve years, and today, I am a Regulatory Affairs Supervisor at Becton Dickinson (BD), one of the world’s leading medical device companies. I truly feel like I have the coolest job. To explain a bit about the field, Regulatory Affairs is like being both an engineer and a lawyer. We must understand the technical details of medical devices and the regulations in various countries to help secure approval for those devices.

I oversee product approvals in Latin America, working closely with engineers in the U.S. to learn about the products and create detailed reports. I collaborate with teams in Latin America to understand local regulations and develop strategies to submit applications to health ministries. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of getting a medical device approved—knowing that it will improve someone’s quality of life. One of the perks of my role is traveling to different countries for work and conferences, where I learn about new cultures and connect with colleagues from around the world.

When I am not at work, I dedicate myself fully to my family. I love being a mom to my daughter Melody and Gael. I am at a stage in my life where I’m balancing work and family – and enjoying it to the fullest.