By Jennifer K. Morita

May 12, 2025

Serena Vu always knew she didn’t want to walk the path her parents laid out for her back home in Vietnam.

Get A’s in school. Find a good job, then a husband and have a family.

Not all of it, anyway.

“I knew deep down I was not built like that. I felt so different from everyone else. My friends were settling down, but not me,” Vu said. “I felt like there was something big for me that I needed to do.”

So at the age of 19, Vu flew halfway across the world to a strange country, leaving behind her family and friends to pursue a college degree.

This month, she’ll not only earn that degree, she’ll do it as the top graduate in Sacramento State’s College of Business. Vu, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Business Analytics), is the Dean’s Award winner for the college, an honor given during Spring Commencement to one graduating student from each of Sac State’s seven academic colleges.

“One out of every three women experience sexual abuse or sexual harassment at least once in her life. The more I talk to women, the more I realize I am not alone. Everyone has their own story. Everyone has their own trauma. And when you’re in crisis, you’re not in the right mind to fight or seek help. There are resources, but you just don’t know where to start.” -- Serena Vu, College of Business Dean's Award recipient

While pursuing her studies, Vu, a sexual assault survivor, formed a nonprofit and developed an AI-powered app, each aimed at helping other survivors.

“Serena Vu exemplifies resilience, innovation and deep commitment to serving others,” College of Business Dean Jean-Francois Coget wrote in a letter of recommendation.

“Serena overcame significant challenges, adjusting to a new culture and educational system as an international student, overcoming barriers specific to women seeking higher education in international contexts, surviving sexual assault, and still excelling academically,” Coget said.

Vu came to the United States six years ago, moving in with relatives in Sacramento. She spent three years studying at Cosumnes River College before transferring to Sac State.

“I always wanted to pursue higher education,” she said. “I felt like I outgrew my home country, the politics, environment and culture because women were not supposed to pursue careers or higher education.”

Then, she was sexually assaulted, upending her life and changing its trajectory. She never sought help, or reported the incident, for fear it would bring shame to her family. Or worse, she would be sent back to Vietnam.

Vu realized how vulnerable she was as a woman, and an international student with limited means or resources.

“I had no money. I was isolated, and I was afraid my visa would be jeopardized if I reported it,” Vu said. “I realized then how important it is to be financially independent and secure.”

Determined to learn how money works, Vu decided to major in business. She took self-defense classes and got a campus job at the School of Social Work, where she learned about counseling and the various resources available to students like herself.

“I finally learned that what happened to me wasn’t my fault,” Vu said. “I thought I attracted that because I wore makeup and wore a certain kind of clothes. And that was another reason I didn’t report it. I was afraid no one would believe me, or they’d blame me.”

In October 2024, Vu’s professor encouraged her to enter the College of Business Idea Pitch Competition at the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She developed an AI-powered platform with real-time updates and interactive heat maps of sexual violence incidents, which won second place.

The win spurred Vu to found AnneitS, a nonprofit organization advocating for sexual violence victims, particularly international students and immigrants, helping them receive legal support, education and career development.

“One out of every three women experience sexual abuse or sexual harassment at least once in her life,” Vu said. “The more I talk to women, the more I realize I am not alone. Everyone has their own story. Everyone has their own trauma.

“And when you’re in crisis, you’re not in the right mind to fight or seek help. There are resources, but you just don’t know where to start.”

Vu wants her nonprofit to be a one-stop place for people to find the help they need.

The website for her platform recently went live, and the patent for her app is pending. In the meantime, Vu continues to work full time for the School of Social Work and will be back at Sac State in the fall pursuing a master’s degree in Business Analytics.

“I’m very grateful and surprised I received this award,” Vu said. “I know my peers were also very good. Everyone deserved this award. Everyone has their own story, their own talent and uniqueness.”

Read the inspiring stories of the other Deans' Awards recipients.