OFIC Insider - October 2026

Fall Into New Opportunities

October brings cooler weather, fall football, Halloween fun, and plenty of momentum across OFIC’s member campuses. As students navigate internship searches and mid-term exams, OFIC is busy welcoming new team members, connecting with higher education leaders, launching a scholarship opportunity and working to expand our Instagram audience.

What’s Inside This Month:

  • OFIC Staff Update: OFIC has hired a new Director of Talent Connections, Erin Nunn Fairman.

  • Event Recap: OFIC welcomed NACE President Shawn VanDerziel at the Fall Board of Trustees meeting and afternoon session held on Oct. 21 at Baldwin Wallace University.

  • Scholarship Opportunity: OFIC’s Ohio Scholars Program Scholarship application is now open!

  • OFIC’s Student-Focused, Student-Led Instagram Account: Request for collaboration on your campus.

We’d love to hear from you! Do you have suggestions for future editions or something specific you'd like to see? Let us know - your feedback shapes the content we deliver.

Thank you,
Melanie


OFIC’s New Director of Talent Connections - Welcome Erin Nunn Fairman!

OFIC is excited to welcome Erin Nunn Fairman as its new Director of Talent Connections! Erin joined the team on October 19 and will help advance OFIC’s efforts to connect students with career opportunities and strengthen partnerships between campuses and Ohio employers.

Get to know Erin and read her announcement below.


From College to Career - Event Recap

OFIC recently welcomed more than 60 attendees to the afternoon session of our Fall Board of Trustees Meeting at Baldwin Wallace University, featuring Shawn VanDerziel, President of NACE, for a discussion on connecting higher education and employers.

Shawn highlighted the importance of work-based learning and the shared role colleges and employers play in preparing students for their careers.

A panel featuring Ohio Northern University’s Andrea Domachowski and Sherwin-Williams talent representatives Patrick Gibboney and Lindsey Parker explored employer expectations, work-based learning, and AI in the workplace, including how students can communicate their AI experience to employers and how organizations are incorporating AI into their work and job descriptions.

Stay tuned for more takeaways from these important conversations!


Now Open - OFIC OSP Scholarship Application

Help your students access scholarship opportunities! OFIC’s 2027-2028 Ohio Scholars Program (OSP) scholarship application is now open.

New this year, the OFIC Student Portal allows students to monitor their application, ask questions, and learn about other scholarships and OFIC resources. Students will be prompted to create an account in the OFIC Student Portal, which is required to apply for the scholarship program.

Encourage your students to complete one free application to be considered for up to 500 different scholarships, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Share the application with your students and help them explore opportunities to support their education.


Audience Expansion - OFIC’s Student-Focused, Student-Led Instagram

Did you know OFIC has a student-focused, student-led Instagram account, OFIC Student Hub? To help increase engagement across your campus, we’re looking to connect with campus contacts who manage student-focused social media accounts, including social media directors, faculty, and staff. Please take a moment to complete our Student Hub Connection Form to help us identify opportunities to share relevant content, resources, and career-focused opportunities with students at your institution.

Follow along on Instagram and help us spread the word across your campus!


 
 

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OFIC Insider - September 2026