Serena Holthe currently serves as project manager of the National Juvenile Defender Center's Civil Legal Initiative, where she leads a group of fellows throughout the country who assist young people in overcoming the legal barriers to their employment, education, and housing created by their juvenile court involvement. Before joining NJDC, Serena worked at the Center for Children & Youth Justice in Seattle, WA. She managed a civil legal services program for former foster youth to help them overcome legal hurdles to their successful transition into adulthood and assisted in juvenile justice and child welfare policy reform efforts. Before moving to Seattle, she was an public defender and civil legal aid attorney in Baltimore City. Serena earned her J.D. from The Catholic University of America, graduating with magna cum laude honors.