Laena is a multidisciplinary educator with over a decade of experience in educational design and student mentorship. Laena helps students craft compelling narratives that showcase their unique strengths and potential. She empowers students to identify their passions and develop the skills needed to achieve their goals.
She excels at breaking down the complex processes of college applications into manageable, strategic steps. Previoulsy she was an instructional designer and curriculum writer for Thinkful (now Chegg), where she developed comprehensive educational pathways in data analytics, UX design, product management, and cybersecurity.
At Pratt Institute, she conducted design research, product design research, and architecture research while mentoring students through thesis projects and portfolio development. Laena graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, received an MS in Information Science from Pratt Institute, and was awarded the United States Antarctica Service Medal by the Department of Defense for her work with the National Science Foundation.