Leadership Spotlight - Gisella Baker

Name, title, school, role in MASFAA: 

Gisella Baker, Financial Aid Director, Hawkeye Community College.  Awards Committee Chair

How did you get started in financial aid? 

After working for one year in a EOC-TRIO program for the University of Northern Iowa

How did you first become involved in your state and regional associations? 

After one of our Directors (Lois Mulbrook) volunteered my name to be in the MASFAA Program Committee many years ago; and then suggested I did the same for our state J

What advice do you have for someone new to financial aid, and may be interested in becoming more involved in state and regional associations? 

To first talk to their immediate supervisors about their career aspirations and wish to be involved in either or both associations.  Chances are that they have volunteered in the past or at least know who to connect that person with to get more information.

What financial aid issue is keeping you from falling asleep at night? 

What if I have missed something that we need to be tracking or doing, and are not??!!

What do you enjoy doing when you are outside the aid office? 

Spending time with my family and outdoors.

If you had to describe yourself in only three words, what would those words be and why? Adventurous; Faithful; Caring