We hope you enjoy this series where we meet and get to know employees from across campus. Would you like to be featured? Contact us at campusnews@csufresno.edu.

Name: Lisa McReynolds
Title: Financial aid counselor and federal work-study coordinator
Department: Financial Aid and Scholarships

How long you have worked at Fresno State?: I started in the Financial Aid Office in 1985 and have been there ever since. I'm going on 36 years and counting.

What are you most passionate about in your field and why? Helping students get the financial aid they need to get them through their education.

What is a memorable moment you had at your job? Working in financial aid never gets boring. There is always so much going on. Connecting with students has been very important to me over the years. To have a good connection and be able to help them get through their educational journey is very rewarding. It’s a great feeling especially when you meet them in their freshman year and end up helping them along the way through to graduation. Seeing them really blossom into a career later is an amazing feeling. It all begins with a student needing help filling out their FAFSA!

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time? I live in the foothills on five acres. I really enjoy the peace and quiet up there. I have eight chickens, a German shepherd and two crazy kitties. Taking care of all that keeps me pretty busy. I love working in my garden and I have also created quite a succulent collection over the years. When I’m not spending time at home with all of that, my real passion are my six grandkids. Traveling with all of them is so much fun. Family vacations, going up and down the California and Oregon coastline is amazing. Family is everything to me.

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know? I bartended for a couple years. That was quite an experience!

Is there something else you would like to share that was not asked? I am the federal work-study coordinator in the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. I have been running the work-study program for over 20 years and love every minute of it. The program has changed a lot over the last 20 plus years. I miss the regular contact with the students seeking work as most of it has become an online process. In the process of getting jobs for students to apply for, I have met so many interesting people all over campus and off campus as well. Being able to help students get jobs to earn extra money to help them get through school is very fulfilling. In our office we really try to mentor our student assistants so when they get out in the “real” world, they will have a bit of a head start. I have seen many of our students do really great once they have left us and graduated. They have become nurses, police officers, social workers and even lawyers. It’s very exciting. Sometimes they even come back to say hi and thank you for helping them grow!