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Jaclyn Serazio has built her CMU experience by embracing new opportunities, investing in others and never being afraid to step forward.
"Nothing's really been handed to me," Jaclyn Serazio said. "I just throw my hat in the ring for anything."
That simple philosophy has guided nearly every decision she's made during her time at Central Michigan University. Rather than waiting for opportunities to find her, Serazio, a senior marketing and logistics double major from Livonia, Mich., has made a habit of stepping forward. Whether it's applying for a leadership role, introducing herself to someone new, or volunteering to help, she's learned that raising her hand often leads to experiences she never expected.
Choosing CMU, however, wasn't as automatic as some people might assume. With a father, brother and sister who all attended Central, the university had always been part of her life. Still, when it came time to choose a college, she found herself going back and forth between CMU and Grand Valley State University before ultimately deciding to become a Central Michigan University Chippewa.
Once she arrived on campus, she committed fully. Only a few students from her graduating class enrolled at CMU, making the experience feel like a fresh start. As someone whose high school classmates voted her "Most Involved," she knew the best way to make a large university feel smaller was to jump in from the very beginning.
During her three years in the College of Business Administration, Serazio has taken on leadership roles within the Business Residential College and the Society of Women in Business, where she serves as marketing and brand engagement coordinator. She has also worked as a Career Development Center peer advisor, represented CMU as a campus ambassador, welcomed new students as a Leadership Safari guide and completed a product marketing internship with Steelcase. While those experiences make for an impressive resume, they all grew from the same willingness to stay curious, embrace new challenges and look for ways to help others.
For Serazio, raising her hand has never been about collecting titles. Every opportunity is another chance to learn, build relationships and discover where she can make the greatest impact.
That philosophy followed her into her internship with Steelcase, where she spent the summer as a product marketing intern.
Rather than working on one large project, Serazio found herself contributing to everything from customer presentations and product storytelling to dealer resources, logistics and cross-functional collaboration. The experience challenged her assumptions about marketing and introduced her to the complexity of bringing products to market. Her double major unexpectedly became one of her greatest strengths.
"I feel like it's been helpful also having the logistics major to understand the business and all the moving parts," she said.
The internship also introduced her to careers she hadn't previously considered. Conversations with colleagues sparked an interest in talent marketing, a field that combines recruiting, employer branding and marketing strategy.
"I found a person that has my dream role, that I didn't even know was a career path," she said.
Instead of leaving the summer with a single career path mapped out, Serazio left with something even more valuable: confidence that careers don't have to follow a straight line.
"I was told in the past, ‘You need to have a niche,’” she said. “Whereas, I feel like at Steelcase, the philosophy is, ‘Grow your skill set. Okay, take it to the next place you go.’ I love that. I love change."
Like many of the opportunities she's pursued, the internship reminded her that growth often begins by saying yes before you have every answer.
While her internship expanded her understanding of marketing, the opportunity she's most excited about this fall has nothing to do with products or campaigns.
As the Business Residential College's coordinator of professional development, Serazio will help guide first-year students as they begin their own college journeys. The position brings together many of the experiences she's gained over the past three years and gives her the chance to do what she enjoys most: helping others succeed.
"I've had a role with the BRC every single year," she said. "I'm so excited to pour into these freshmen and be the person they can look up to."
Long before stepping into the role, mentoring younger students had already become part of her routine. Whether she met freshmen in Grawn Hall, at the career fair or during BRC events, she was quick to answer questions, offer encouragement or spend a few minutes helping someone practice an elevator pitch.
"I always think, 'What would I have wanted to know when I was a freshman?'" she said. "I love helping people younger than me get to the next point."
That desire to invest in others stems from her own experience and from the example set by her parents, who are both teachers. Growing up, Serazio watched them go the extra mile to help others learn and succeed. She experienced that same generosity early in college, when upperclassmen took the time to answer her questions, share advice and encourage her involvement. Now, she hopes to follow her parents’ example in her own way, sharing what she learns along the way and investing in the success of others wherever her career takes her.
Looking at Serazio's resume, it's easy to focus on the internships, leadership positions and organizations she's been part of. What those accomplishments don't fully capture is the mindset behind them.
Throughout her time at CMU, she's built a reputation for volunteering, asking questions, trying something new and encouraging others to do the same. Each experience has started with the same decision: raise your hand.
As she enters her senior year, she's hoping to pass that philosophy along to the students who follow her. If a freshman leaves the Business Residential College feeling more confident about applying for a leadership position, pursuing an internship or simply introducing themselves to someone new, she'll consider her efforts worthwhile.
For Serazio, success isn't measured by the number of titles on a resume. It's measured by the opportunities she's willing to pursue, the people she's able to encourage and the doors she can help open for someone else.
