Dr. Carmen Licon to Present Findings on Cheese & Dairy Vocational Training

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - May 27, 2025 - PRLog -- New York— The Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment (DZTE) is proud to announce a special presentation by Dr. Carmen Licon, recipient of the 2024 Daphne Zepos Teaching Award, at the annual American Cheese Society Conference. Dr. Licon will share the results of her year-long research project exploring vocational dairy training programs in France and Italy—and how they could shape the future of professional cheese education in the U.S. Her talk will take place onSaturday, July 26 at 10:30 a.m. PDT, during the ACS Conference in Sacramento. This is aticketed event. Register here:
https://www.cheesesociety.org/conference/2025-conference/conference-registration

With a focus on actionable insights and practical inspiration, Dr. Licon will outline how Europe's structured pathways for dairy education—from apprenticeships to technical instruction—can inform the development of a U.S.-based vocational program. Her research, supported by the $6,800 DZTA scholarship, highlights opportunities for American cheesemakers, educators, and industry leaders to collaborate in building a more sustainable future for skilled dairy professionals.

Dr. Licon currently serves as Director of the Dairy Products Technology Center at Cal Poly, and brings a unique blend of academic leadership and on-the-ground experience to this timely conversation. "We're thrilled for Carmen to share what she's learned," said Rachel Juhl, Executive Director of DZTE. "She brings clarity and energy to a subject that could have a real, long-term impact on our industry."

This session is open to all ACS attendees and is a must for anyone interested in education,
workforce development, or the future of American dairy and cheesemaking.

Learn more about the Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment at www.dzte.org, or email
info@dzta.org for details.