WALK AND TALK

The event is an informal discussion with an agenda behind it

“It also provides the opportunity for folks to tour the campus and see the different buildings and sections theymay not knowabout.”

— Lorain County Community College President Marcia Ballinger

Lorain County Community College President Marcia Ballinger hosted an event at the college, 1005 N. Abbe Road in Elyria, open to the community, students and faculty March 4 for an informal tour and discussion about the school during her Walk and Talk.

“I like to do these several times each semester,” Ballinger said. “I’ve been doing these since I started as president (in 2016).”

The impetus for the Walk and Talk was for more informal discussion, she said.

“I do a lot of events and Q& A (question and answer)

sessions during the year, butthis is a less formal opportunity for students to ask questions,” the president said.

“It also provides the opportunity for folks to tour the campus and see the different buildings and sections they may not know about.”

Ballinger said the event never has an agenda behind it.

“There is no predestination or area of the college I amlooking to push over the others,” she said. “It’s spontaneous and we just move from one area to the next.”

Ballinger said the event, which included the college’s Northeast Ohio LaunchNet area, culinary building and broadcast center, was wellrounded.

“Despite the event being spontaneous, it worked out well,” she said. “We were able to talk to some folks who run these particular areas and programs on campus.

“They were able to share information about these parts of campus, so it was very informative.”

Ballinger said the event also is great for non students.

“Members of the community are also encouraged to come,” she said. “There are a lot of community members who come out to see what has been written about.

“It’s a perfect chance for them to go around the campus and see what the college has to offer. It’s really great when we are able to connect to the community in that way.”

Ballinger said the event is an hour long.

“It’s a good block of time that allows people to come over,” she said. “Every time we meet at the bottom floor of the College Center to have free drinks and snacks offered by Starbucks, and we then go around the campus.

“I like to move the time to give everyone a chance to be a part of it.”

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Jeremiah Zingale, 17, of Columbia Station, left, displays the free drinks and snacks offered by the Lorain County Community College Starbucks on March 4to Joan Perch, program and outreach coordinator for the Campana Center at LCCC.