Anissa Strickland is both a first-gen college graduate and advocate. Growing up in rural Ohio, Anissa graduated from a high school where only 7 students in her graduating class went to college. In addition to a limited family income and being first-generation, she also received little support from her high school guidance office during her senior year – going to college was a huge struggle. Despite the barriers she faced, Anissa pursued her dreams of a college degree and graduated from Marietta College.
As fate would have it, KSU Alumni working for Marietta College encouraged her to pursue a graduate degree at Kent State University – and that’s exactly what she did. Anissa received her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University and hasn’t left the University since. In the 25 years that she has been at KSU, she has worked as a Graduate Assistant and Residence Hall Director for Residence Services and has continued to climb the ladder from her first Financial Aid Counselor position to her current role as Senior Associate Director of Student Financial Aid.
Anissa will tell you that she is exceptionally good at spending other peoples’ money and has a big heart, which is precisely why we are so thankful to have her on our side. Whether it be awarding KSU Scholarships to TRIO Upward Bound alumni who have decided to become Golden Flashes or working with TRIO Student Support Services’ staff to eliminate the financial barriers many students face, Anissa truly impacts students in ways many of us don’t observe.
