News
Servant Leader & Devoted GVSU Laker Making an Impactful Difference
December 01, 2021
Since 1999, Lisa Migazzi has been a devoted GVSU Laker. Her educational, career, and life journey for the last 22 years have steered her towards a life of service and making a difference in the educational system for upcoming generations.
Lisa first received her Bachelor of Science in Health Communications in 2003 from Grand Valley University, main campus. After graduating, Lisa worked in medical staffing sales for 6 months as a rehabilitation recruiter for a comprehensive medical staffing company. However, her strong desire to serve brought her to change course and enlist in the United States Coast Guard (U.S.C.G.) shortly thereafter.
Lisa’s enlistment in the U.S.C.G. was 8 years of service, but it was in her 5th week of basic training that she had her educational epiphany. She had received a package of letters from a 3rd grade classroom in her hometown of St. Johns, MI. Reading these letters of encouragement and positivity, brought tears to her eyes and when her Company Commander noticed and demanded to know if she was a teacher, she quickly responded with, “No sir. Not yet, sir.”
During her time in the Coast Guard, Lisa received specialized training as an engineer on the CGC Mackinaw, a boarding team member at CG Station Curtis Bay, a health service technician, EMT, and pharmacy technician at USCG Air Station Traverse City. She loved serving her country but her favorite part of her job was always educating and helping others; especially during training schools. Lisa graduated the top of her class during her A-School and C-School training, but it was the tutoring groups she led on the Coast Guard and Air Force bases that solidified her true calling.
After completing her 4 years on active duty, Lisa returned to her alma mater and completed the Graduate Teacher Certification Program in the spring of 2010. Her educational career officially began at Glen Lake Community Schools in young fives as a long-term guest teacher. Afterwards, Grand Traverse Academy hired Lisa as a kindergarten teacher. In 2012, Lisa returned to Glen Lake and served the next 9 years teaching third, fourth, and sixth grade.
During the last three years, from 2018-2021, Lisa simultaneously worked as an elementary teacher while she worked towards her Educational Leadership degree from GVSU Traverse City Regional Center.
When researching university options for an Educational Leadership Program, Lisa came across many, but decided to go back to GVSU through the Regional Center in Traverse City. Lisa shared, “I chose GVSU Traverse City Regional Center because it was more than a program- it was an experience with a wealth of expertise and knowledge. The professors I had were some of my biggest cheerleaders and those professional relationships were genuine and extended way beyond the classroom. One of my professors called not long ago to check-in to see how things were going in my new role at Greenspire High School. It’s the relationships made that really make the educational experience at GVSU Traverse City.”