Marena is currently a PhD candidate at Washington State University studying molecular mechanisms of Coxiella burnetii infection using the fruit fly model. As a first generation college student, Marena graduated from St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, Texas in 2016 with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry. In addition, Marena is a DACA recipient and the current advisor for Crimson Group, an activist support group for undocumented students at Washington State University.