LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — For 175 years, Defiance College has been a staple of higher learning, preparing students for the future. President Richanne Mankey spoke to the Lima Rotary Club on Monday about the history and mission of the college.
Defiance College offers about 40 undergraduate and graduate majors, including programs in education, health care and technology. The institution is also a hub for workforce development in northwest Ohio, partnering with area businesses to understand their needs and prepare students accordingly.
“We need to listen. We need to listen to what employers and community leaders. We do that through what we call Jacket Summit. We invite employers and regional employers into our campus to have conversations. We usually listen to a keynote speaker, and then we break out and it's a conversation around; what are you seeing, what do you need, how can we help prepare. We can't predict, but we can prepare students to be adaptable to the future needs,” says Dr. Richanne Mankey, Pres. of Defiance College.
In the mid-1800s, the state set aside land to build Defiance College. Although it was founded as a female seminary, the institution has always been co-ed. Over the past 175 years, the campus has changed, but the core values have remained the same.
“We have a heavy emphasis on service, even in the early years, and that continues to this day. We've been here a long time. We're well integrated into the life of Northwest Ohio. We have a lot of alumni in the area and contributing to their local communities, and we hope that continues,” says Barb Sedlock, Archivist Defiance College.
The Lima Rotary Club also continued its support of higher education by awarding 13 scholarships to nontraditional students pursuing degrees. Since the program began, the club has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships.
