Giselle Hernandez Navarro, PhD, LCSW, CADC, the new director of Northeast AHEC, had “many different and creative ideas” about what she wanted to be when she grew up. They included professions as a teacher, reporter for the news, artist, and interior designer.

What finally led her to choose health care, she says, was that “I saw firsthand in my family how a lack of care for one’s health (mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual) can have devastating, harmful effects. I wanted to dedicate my life to improving wellness, health, healing, and positive change, especially for medically underserved populations.”

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Psychology with High Departmental Distinction from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2007. Then she graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master of Arts in Clinical Social Service Administration, specializing in school social work in 2009. In 2018, she completed her education in addiction counseling at Waubonsee Community College. Giselle earned her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Northern Illinois University in 2023.

She has also been a stay-at-home mom, school social worker, medical social worker, autism home support worker, foster care worker, group therapist, individual therapist, educator, and supervisor.

Looking back on this journey, “I was surprised by the types of counseling I found more meaningful as I matured as a clinical social worker,” she notes. “I went from working with children to support their development of social-emotional skills to working with adults of all ages to support their healing from severe addictions, grief, and trauma.”

A native of Franklin Park, Illinois, she now lives in Sycamore. She is both an introvert and an extrovert, she says. “I love my time alone to read and reflect. I also enjoy the energy of being with people. I need a balance of both to be at my best.”

Giselle assumed the role of Northeast AHEC director earlier this year.

Outside of work, she enjoys “Audible/reading, rollerblading, badminton, baking, puzzles, and watching action and spooky movies at home with my husband and two children, as well as close friends.”

What advice would she give to students considering a healthcare career? “Give yourself time and a variety of experiences with different people and in different settings to find the best health-care fit for you. As you have more professional experiences, give yourself permission to grow and change throughout the process. The end result may look different from what you expected at the beginning of your journey and that is ok. Also, be prepared for your learning to always be ‘in process’ as a student and working professional. There is always more to learn.”