Serena Rao Email & Phone Number

Working in service to mission and learning, I take pride in getting things done effectively and creatively and excel in operating at both strategic and tactical levels. A lifelong learner and an avid yoga practitioner, my holistic approach to professional and personal development reflects my dedication to continuous growth and well-being. Currently, I am pursuing a doctoral degree in Education at the University of Pennsylvania, where I'm focusing on higher education management. I am the Senior Associate Dean in the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research at Stanford University. Reporting directly to the Dean, I oversee the management of Stanford's interdisciplinary labs, centers, institutes, and research-support offices, an annual budget of over $300 million and over 800 full-time staff. I guide their strategic activities, advise on operational challenges, and support finance, HR, and many other administrative activities. I also play a key role in facilitating strategy development and leading the implementation of the university's initiatives impacting research. My extensive experience at Stanford includes six years in the University Budget Office, where I was a vital member of the Provost’s Budget Group. In this capacity, I 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, I managed city-wide transportation planning initiatives, annual capital budgets, and long-term debt forecasts in the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget in New York City.

Listed skills include Budgets, Analysis, Nonprofits, Management, and 11 others.