Serena is a junior pursuing a major in computer science with a minor in bioinformatics. She is in the combined program, working towards having a master’s degree in computer science. Her role in the ISO is to respond to possible phishing emails that people send to infosec@miamioh.edu. She then confirms whether or not the emails are phishing attempts, giving corresponding advice on how to avoid scams. It is her favorite part of the job because according to her, “I get to be sneaky and try to fool the staff into clicking links. It's very fun to come up with messages that are more intelligent than actual scammers’ messages.”

She also helps to educate students and faculty on dangerous phishing attempts through campaigns on campus. 

In her free time, Serena enjoys reading, playing piano, listening to Taylor Swift, card games, and traveling. She recently studied abroad to complete her computer science capstone in Manchester, U.K. She got to work with a company that helps people who are currently unhoused, making software for them to make their websites more accessible. 

After that, she traveled to Italy, learning ethics and a new programming language. She got to experience Italian culture and visit different provinces in the south of the country.;

An interesting fact about Serena is that the summer before her first year at college, she broke her leg and had to re-teach herself how to walk. She told us: “I received no physical therapy, but I was so determined to not come to college with crutches… I forced myself to get off the couch and go walk every day until I could be without my crutches.” This proves Serena’s determination!

Thank you, Serena for all your hard work at IT Services! We can’t wait to see what your future holds!