Dayton, Ohio (Aug. 5) — The Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) has announced that it will host a series of nine virtual lunch and learns throughout the 2026-27 school year. Offered during the noon hour on weekdays via the SOCHE Zoom platform, these events are open to everyone interested in education-focused professional development.

Designed to showcase the knowledge and experience found across SOCHE’s 31 member institutions, this webinar series offers broad professional development opportunities for anyone involved in education. This year’s slate features a selection of topics in areas such as student success, career development, course accessibility, support for student veterans, and more. This is the seventh consecutive year that SOCHE has hosted a series of virtual lunch and learn sessions for the education community.

Dr. Cassie Barlow, president of SOCHE

“Every year, I’m impressed by the willingness of our members to share their expertise with colleagues across education. This series is one of the best examples of what makes SOCHE special — people coming together to exchange ideas, solve challenges, and help one another succeed. It’s also exciting to see so many of our newest members from last year’s merger with the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities (GC3) submitting proposals and leading sessions this year. Their participation has strengthened our outstanding lineup.”

Registration is now open for the full lunch-and-learn series, along with several other virtual SOCHE events taking place this school year. All SOCHE-hosted conferences, workshops, and trainings can be viewed at www.soche.org/events.

Formed in 1967, Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education is a consortium of 31 colleges and universities located throughout Ohio and northern Kentucky. SOCHE is the regional leader for higher collaboration, engaging with educational institutions and industry to transform the economy through the education and employment of students in the region. Learn more at www.soche.org

2026-2027 SOCHE Lunch and Learn Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

Connecting the Dots: Admissions, Careers, and Student Success

Erin Willoughby – Clark State College

Thursday, Oct. 8, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

Rethinking Readiness: Faculty Practices for Course Accessibility

Dr. Megan Dinnesen and Alexandria Grant – Mount St. Joseph University

Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

The Tech Stack for Non-Tech Educators

Dr. Jonathan McCombs – Franklin University

Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

From Passion to Profession: Leveraging Community Engagement for Student Growth

Doreen Grontkowski, Gwen Roemer and Raechel Scarchilli – University of Cincinnati

Friday, Jan. 22, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

The Balancing Act: Managing Empathy and Accountability on Your Team

Zoe Nunley – Xavier University

Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

Well-Being in Academia: Mindset and Life Design Tools to Avoid Burnout

Rebecca Ingle – Kettering College

Wednesday, March 10, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

Mission to Major: 10 Lessons from the Military-to-Campus Transition

Dr. Rusty Mardis – Northern Kentucky University

Tuesday, April 13, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

Beyond Recruiting: Building Lasting Employer Partnerships

Cordelia Schack-Edmiston – University of Cincinnati

Wednesday, May 12, from 12 to 1 p.m. ET

Exploring Mental Illness Stigma Interventions Across Learning Modalities

Dr. Kelly Renner, Franklin University; Michelle Anthony, Cleveland State/University of Akron; and Megan Tewksbury, Marywood University