Meet Nikki Stancampiano, PAST’s Workforce Development Coordinator and affectionately called the Workforce Warrior. Nikki grew up in upstate New York with her parents, one brother and golden retrievers. Following in her father’s footsteps, she attended Miami University, her father’s alma mater where he played ice hockey. And so did Nikki. She was one of the founding members of the Miami Women’s Hockey team. She studied interpersonal communication and special education at Miami.
Once you meet Nikki, instantly you realize that communication is one of her gifts. She makes a difference in everything she does whether it's elevating a student’s confidence, her team or her company’s performance. She is an exceptional coach and teacher with a can-do attitude and a tireless work ethic. These attributes have resulted in numerous performance awards in her work and education endeavors.
Nikki began her teaching career at Teach for America hoping to teach special education, but as sometimes happens, she was slated to teach high school math, which was her last choice. She ended up in South Carolina, outside of Charleston and ultimately was assigned to teach engineering design and statistics, and coach the high school robotics team. “I readily admit that I was not initially thrilled with my assignment, but now I love it and even enjoy 3D printing as a hobby.”
Next, she spent four years teaching engineering and coaching robotics for Berkeley County Schools before joining the Peace Corps and teaching in Namibia, Africa. While in Namibia, Nikki not only taught secondary students grades 8-12 but also chaired and coordinated several initiatives around gender-equity, inclusion, and worked as a teacher trainer providing resources to volunteers and teachers new to the classroom. And then COVID hit … everyone was sent home. Nikki returned to her home in New York.
“My best friend convinced me to come to Columbus until I could return overseas. Along the way, I met Andy Bruening and Ashley Price through friends of friends. One day, they approached me about writing a curriculum for a summer program they were developing, which led to developing and facilitating a workforce development program in 2020. Once I found PAST, it was the reason I needed to stay in Columbus. At PAST, I whole-heartedly believe in our mission, and felt I could further my work creating opportunities for groups who are underrepresented in STEM fields.”
Nikki shares that what she loves about working at PAST is its mission – linking learning to life. She adds, “I get to work with innovative and creative people. I get to empower youth and expose them to lots of opportunities. I work with our interns who come in uncertain and leave with new experiences, confidence, and enthusiasm about their futures. I love helping them discover other options that they did not know existed. They leave our programs fearless and unafraid to try new things. That gives me much joy!”
In thinking over her four years at PAST, Nikki states that she appreciates the opportunities that she has had working with students. Watching their growth and transformation and their willingness to share their knowledge and experience with new interns and people in their community inspires her. Nikki says, “That is the ripple effect.”
Not surprising, given her vast STEM experience, the aspect she has enjoyed the most is the work-based learning programs where students have the ability to earn credentials alongside industry experts. “In traditional education models, we often focus on what we know, but it’s important to acknowledge the intersection with who we know. With work-based learning programs, we are in the mode of figuring some of this out, connecting students with professionals who can provide insight and exposure to meaningful work. This is beyond the career tech pathway that may be familiar to many.”
“Most students experience a bubble. The bubble is likely your parents, relatives, and neighbors and their experiences. I love helping students explore options outside their bubbles. Adults, and especially educators, need to trust in our students. Unfortunately, we often set low expectations because we’re not sure they can handle it. We must strive to empower our students, connect with their humanity and ignite their passions. We can do this through personalized and student-centered learning, and making sure the work they are doing is authentic. Producing meaningful output impacts the community, and maybe more importantly, demonstrates that our youth are capable and prepared for future success.”
Nikki had this to say about her meta title. “One of my colleagues suggested it, the Workforce Warrior, but now after some experience and reflection, a better title might be the Industry Invader because I find that my work is focused on breaking the barrier between industry and education.” Given Nikki’s depth of experience, my money is on Nikki, what do you think?
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