Students to take part in unique career readiness conference on campus

January 7, 2022

DEFIANCE, Ohio -Defiance College continues its strong commitment to workforce development by hosting its second annual Jacket Days on January 12-14. This is a multi-day, conference-style event focused on career readiness for Defiance College students. Jacket Days will be held in-person for the students - with speakers and presenters being a mix of in-person and virtual.

View Complete Jacket Days Schedule (PDF)

Jacket Days provides Defiance College students with an opportunity to participate in career panels, discussion panels, and sessions. The career panels offer students a chance to ask questions and network with a wide variety of leading industry professionals from fields such as criminal justice, education, social work, medical science, and more. 

The discussion panels allow students to have in-depth conversations with various working professionals. Discussion examples include "Wonder Women: Highlighting Women Working in Wrongful Conviction" and "Overcoming Imposter Syndrome" -- which is focused on building confidence in the workplace.

Another key piece of DC's Jacket Days is the 30 sessions students can choose to attend. The sessions explore many career-related topics ranging from "What Gets You Out of Bed Every Day?" to "How Do You Solve Problems in the Workplace?" to "How Do Collegiate Athletics Lead to Success?" -- which is led by former NBA player and current Big Ten Network commentator, Len Elmore.

"Our Jacket Days has really started to take off," says Defiance College president Dr. Richanne C. Mankey.  "Last year, due to pandemic-related issues, there was much uncertainty surrounding our inaugural Jacket Days. However, that was short-lived. Students and our professional guests quickly became engaged in thought-provoking discussions; I expect that to happen again this year. The amount of learning that takes place is truly incredible and a direct reflection of the dedication put into Jacket Days."

David Coleman, is the opening keynote speaker. Coleman is known worldwide as The Dating Doctor.^TM He has been honored 14 times as The National Speaker of the Year -- 11 times by Campus Activities Magazine and three times by The National Association for Campus Activities. He is the only speaker ever to win the National Entertainer of the Year Award. He has been a featured speaker for all branches of our Military as well as PURINA, Sprint, Merrill Lynch, The Kroger Company, and Federated. Coleman received a National Service Citation from President George W. Bush and has served as a spokesperson for the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), Microsoft's Streets and Trips Campaign, Abbott Labs (Humira), English Leather Cologne, and Coca Cola's Fuze brand. Mortar Board honored him with their Alumni Achievement Award, and his alma mater, BGSU, gave him their Distinguished Alumni Award.

Since Jacket Days mirrors a professional conference format, DC students will be highly encouraged to wear business attire and actively contribute in discussions. Each day begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs through 4:00 p.m.  Numerous breaks, contests, and giveaways are built-in to the event to help keep students engaged. There is also a big Beach Blowout to end the event on Friday evening.

Jacket Days is built into the Jacket Journey program at DC. They are both a part of Defiance College's new Institute for Career Readiness and Lifelong Learning -- which also houses the career development office. The DC Institute helps students strengthen their resumes, improve their job interview skills, find internships, and more. The College's Jacket Journey program aims to weave soft skill education into all aspects of campus life. Soft skill education includes having the ability to adapt, think creatively, and then clearly communicate ideas. This new Institute continually looks to improve Defiance College's already impressive 98% career placement rate. More information about Jacket Journey can be found here.

Chartered in 1850, Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts-based institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The College is guided by the four pillars of its mission: To Know, To Understand, To Lead, and To Serve. The College website is www.defiance.edu.