Serena Rao

Bio

Serena Rao is the senior associate dean in the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR). Reporting to the Dean, she provides oversight for resource planning and administration for the independent and interdisciplinary labs, centers and institutes, and mission-support administrative units that uphold research. She also leads and facilitates strategy development and operations for research initiatives at Stanford. Prior to joining VPDoR in 2019, Serena was responsible for finance, facilities, and strategy functions at Stanford Libraries. She had also worked at the University Budget Office for 6+ years, where she was a member of the provost’s Budget Group that guided resource priority and allocation, undertook complex analytical projects for senior leadership that informed strategic direction and decision, and contributed to the development of Stanford's annual consolidated budget. Prior to Stanford, she managed city-wide transportation and public transit planning initiatives, annual capital budget, and long-term debt forecast under the Office of Management and Budget of New York City. She has a master of Public Administration from New York University and dual bachelor's degrees in Economics and Political Science from Peking University.