Ohio Summer Working Connections 2025 Brings IT Faculty Together for Training and Collaboration
Last month, community college IT faculty from across the country gathered at Columbus State Community College for NITIC’s inaugural Ohio Summer Working Connections—a weeklong professional development event designed to strengthen faculty expertise, encourage collaboration, and enhance classroom instruction in high-demand IT fields.
The 2025 Ohio Summer Working Connections offered three intensive, hands-on training tracks:
- Secure Programming with Python
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
- Proxmox VE Workshop using NDG NETLAB
Over the course of five days, participants gained practical skills and knowledge they can immediately apply in their classrooms, ensuring that students in two-year programs receive cutting-edge IT instruction aligned with real-world needs.
The learning extended beyond the classroom; attendees engaged in robust discussions, shared promising practices, and built relationships that will fuel ongoing collaboration and innovation long after the workshop’s close. Whether discussing cloud security strategies over lunch or troubleshooting lab simulations together, faculty found the environment ripe for both technical growth and professional connection.
“This was an incredible experience! I made important new connections with stellar faculty, have already incorporated lessons learned this week into curriculum I’m teaching now, and plan to augment my future Python courses to include more secure programming practices” – Tina Majchrzak, Programming with Python attendee.
The energy and enthusiasm throughout the week made it clear that the Ohio event was a success—and a welcomed addition to NITIC’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible, high-impact professional development for IT educators at two-year colleges.
As one participant put it:
“I had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people—truly a memorable and inspiring time” – Mubarak Banisakher, Proxmox VE Workshop.
With strong participation, enthusiastic feedback, and a clear impact, NITIC is already looking forward to continuing and expanding the Ohio Working Connections model in future summers.
To learn more about upcoming Working Connections events or how to get involved, visit: https://www.nitic.org/working_connection