“I am now the Agency Technology Specialist at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank,” says Staci (Vaughan) Hall ’15M.
“This role is different from my year as an AmeriCorps VISTA because I am able to run specialized reports for our member agencies via SQL and PantryTrak, manage our online Portal via WordPress, and assist with other IT functions throughout the Food Bank.
“I enjoy developing my skills each day in relation to database management, but I especially look forward to being off-site working directly with our member agencies and programs.”
In the past year, Hall has trained over 150 agencies consisting of over 250 volunteers or staff members. In most cases, the trainee is a senior citizen that is hesitant to use a computer, let alone run the required software to stay in compliance.
Getting 100% of their partners on board with the new systems has been the biggest challenge for Hall and her team achieved this goal.
“My experience at Ohio University helped shape this path and led me to be successful in the role I have now,” Hall shares.
She graduated from the Sociology Master’s program in the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio University.
She explains that each graduate course strengthened her critical thinking, writing, and communication skills, with a focus on how understanding the material was crucial to her success.
After completing the graduate level work, individually and in groups, she felt prepared to accomplish difficult tasks in her career, wherever it took her.
Also, her experience as a full-time Sociology graduate assistant and, later, an instructor with OHIO has led to her role as a trainer.
In preparing the application to teach Soc 1000 for Ohio University, she was required to give a 15 minute lecture to a small audience and an hour lecture to a class of over 200 students.
While this task was very challenging at the time, she says it directly to relates to the training she now conducts.
“Being an effective teacher when training our member agencies at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank is crucial to secure funding and ensure that everyone in our communities has the nutritious food they need every day.”
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