Serena Rao

Bio

Serena is the Senior Associate Dean in the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR) at Stanford University. Reporting directly to the Dean, Serena supports Stanford's interdisciplinary labs, centers, institutes, and research-support offices. She guides their strategic activities, advises on operational challenges, and oversees finance, HR, and many other administrative activities. She also plays a key role in facilitating strategy development and leading the implementation of the university's research initiatives.

Serena’s extensive experience at Stanford includes over six years in the University Budget Office, where she was a vital member of the Provost’s Budget Group. In this capacity, she led complex analytical projects that informed strategic decisions for senior leadership and contributed significantly to the development of Stanford's annual consolidated budget. Prior to higher education, Serena managed city-wide infrastructure planning initiatives, annual capital budgets, and long-term debt forecasts for the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget in New York City.

Serena is currently a doctoral candidate in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Passionate about higher education and working in service to learning, Serena takes pride in getting things done effectively and creatively and excels in operating at both strategic and tactical levels.