Before coming to Northeastern Illinois University in 2018, Gala helped with grant submissions and oversaw all financials of the Early Math Collaborative at Erikson Institute in Chicago. Her work in higher education began at the Northwestern University Clinical and Translation Sciences (NUCATS) Institute. There, she developed budgets for clinical trials and assisted research teams with the submission process; coordinated the Physician-Science Training Program; as well as assisted with the Data Safety Monitoring Board program. Prior to working in higher education, Gala was employed as a newspaper reporter and high school English teacher.