She received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and her masters in chemistry at Boston University. She conducted her doctoral work with Professor Mark Kurth at the University of California, Davis and joined the chemistry department faculty at CSUB in fall 2010. Dr. Solano teaches undergraduate organic chemistry and maintains an active research group of 8-12 undergraduate research students. In addition to research and teaching, Dr. Solano also coordinates a variety of community outreach activities designed to increase interest in science amongst local youth.