This month, we spotlight Brianna Hernandez Baldassari, Part-time Specialist III, Business Operations. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Baldassari moved to Houston at the age of two with her parents and older brother. After graduating from Nimitz High School in 2022, Baldassari’s mother encouraged her to go to college.
“My mom went to college, but didn’t finish,” Baldassari said. “My dad, who was in the Army, suggested I join the Air Force. LSC-North Harris made sense. I didn’t have to move anywhere I didn’t know anyone. Being close to home made it an easy choice.” Baldassari admitted that she was scared of attending college at first, but the friendly people she met at LSC-North Harris made it easy.
“It’s been great getting to know how everything works,” Baldassari shared. “So far, my favorite professor has been my Micro-economics professor, Barna Farkas. He’s funny and makes class interesting and fun.” Baldassari is studying to earn her associates degree in Business Marketing. She is a member of Business 4 Success and is glad to be around other students who have the same dreams of becoming entrepreneurs.
Baldassari immediately applied for a part-time position working in the Financial Aid department at LSC-North Harris in the fall of 2022. It was in the summer of 2023 that Baldassari was hired in the Business Office, where she happened to run into our LSC Chancellor Mr. Mario Castillo. He took the time to talk to Baldassari and asked her questions about her job. He then encouraged Baldassari to contact him if she ever encountered a student who needed help.
“The very next day, there was a student who needed help paying for their classes,” Baldassari shared. “So, I emailed Mr. Castillo, and he immediately helped me get the student the assistance they needed.” Shortly after that day, Mr. Castillo insisted that Baldassari be recognized for the work she did. On Oct. 31, Dr. Bennie Lambert, LSC-North Harris President, presented Baldassari with the Lone Star College Challenge Coin.
Baldassari plans to graduate in 2025 and transfer to Sam Houston State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in business marketing. She loves cooking, baking, and designing clothes, and plans to own and operate her own business one day. We wish Baldassari all the best. We know she will do well.