Serena Lao (she/her) is an assistant recruiter at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the psychology with a concentration in Applied Cognitive Psychology and User Experience. Her research interests include improving user experiences with educational technology, the travel industry, and entertainment interactions.
Before joining CGU, Serena worked as a primary education teacher in New York City’s public school system. During her undergraduate studies at Soka University of America, she served as the team coordinator for the marketing media team, where she planned media photoshoots and projects to capture the student experience. Additionally, Serena has experience mentoring first-generation minority students through their college and career journeys as part of her involvement with the non-profit organization, CPC Queens.
Serena holds a bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral science from Soka University of America. Her academic journey also includes studying abroad at Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University, where she focused on cultural and language studies, and traveling extensively throughout East and Southeast Asia.