Liana Optiz

Liana was born in China and grew up in southeastern Wisconsin. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a B.S.E in History Education and is currently working towards her master’s degree in Cultural Foundations of Community Engagement and Education. When Liana is not working in the Student Success Center, most of her time is spent nannying/babysitting, substitute teaching, volunteering, hanging out with her cat, or baking.

In her role as the Smart Start Graduate Assistant, Liana works with incoming undergraduate students to prepare them for their first semester of college with support starting the summer after graduation. In working with students, she strives to create environments centered around inclusion and justice to ensure that students feel seen, supported, and valued.