Donna Gaukler
Director
Missoula Parks and Recreation
Missoula, MT USA
“If we can each believe in ourselves that we have something to give others, I think we get back so much more in return.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationDonna Gaukler
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I started working in parks and recreation when I was in high school—I worked for the park district in Lidgerwood, North Dakota.
After high school, I pursued architecture but ultimately decided that I wanted to keep working in parks and recreation.
I’ve since built my career in parks and recreation.
I currently work as the director for the parks and recreation department for Missoula, Montana, where my goal is to provide inclusionary places and programs for everyone.
Additionally, I serve on the mayor’s senior leadership team and I lead the city’s climate strategies as well as its justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) strategies.
Education
High School
Bachelor
Parks and Recreation
Undergraduate
Parks and Recreation
Undergraduate
Career
Director
I lead the maintenance, development, and administration of programs of city parks and recreation for Missoula, Montana.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Environment & Nature
Government
Working with Others
Day to Day
My day-to-day work varies based on the time of year and the social or environmental issues at hand. I'm here to see what people and place need to provide better opportunity. A typical day for me could include six to eight hours of meetings, site visits, and special events. I spend a lot of time with people, whether in person or through phone calls about various parks and recreation issues.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
There are a lot of paths into the field of parks and recreation. Only the major cities require a master's degree. I only have my bachelor's degree with a minor in business administration, which is helpful as the application side of the field. One thing that has been really useful for me is ongoing continuing education through the National Recreation and Park Association. Otherwise, hands-on experience is the most beneficial tool for this field.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"You need to step away from your work because you're going to be a bad influence as a gay person."
Challenges I Overcame
Death and Loss
LGBT
Interviewed By
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