School Service Center Spotlight: Iesha Finney-Clanton

Name: Iesha Finney-Clanton

Title: School Service Center Advisor

Nycci: How long have you been with Nelnet?

Iesha: Officially, it will be three years in October, but I worked temporarily with the company for a few months before then.

Nycci: What is your favorite part about the job?

Iesha: My coworkers. I’m surrounded by a very knowledgeable, crazy group of people who help keep me going on rough days.

Nycci: Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours.

Iesha: I don’t know if it’s unique, but I travel across the country to go to concerts. I’ve driven 6-8 hours to see bands that wouldn’t come through my area. I recently convinced a friend to fly from Philadelphia to see Coheed and Cambria with me in Chicago this October. We could see them in Philly, but the venue in Chicago is much better.

Nycci: If you had to describe yourself using three words, they would be…

Iesha: Ugh, only three? Spunky, fun-loving, inquisitive (a.k.a. nosey lol).

Iesha’s cat, Sir Archer Bouncington II

Nycci: What is the best advice you ever received?

Iesha: “Don’t use your head for a hat rack.” When I was younger, my grandmother would tell me that a LOT! I tend to dive right into things, and her advice reminds me to slow down and think things through before I make a move. She also said, “Nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream.” I’ve never forgotten either phrase.

Nycci: What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges that today’s direct loan borrowers face?

Iesha: This is a tough one…I think the consolidation process and the splitting of loans between servicers is tricky for borrowers.