Every Wednesday morning, state leaders in Ohio who focus on economic development, education, and the workforce gather to compare notes, chart their course, and act on their vision for connecting students to the workplace.
They call themselves Team Ohio.
“It’s not just a name,” said Cheryl Rice, Ohio vice chancellor of higher education workforce alignment at the Ohio Department of Higher Education. “We work together to support the talent needs and the education and training needs. We’re finding that through these collaborative conversations, we can fill gaps in multiple ways.”
Throughout the nation, work-based learning has emerged as a proven strategy for improving student readiness for careers, helping to ensure a return on investment in higher education, and easing access to a talent pipeline for employers in need of workers.
Strada’s internship program is built around the tenets of a successful work-based learning experience: It provides compensation, helps students develop professional skills, and allows them opportunities to build a professional network and access industry mentorship and social capital.
In addition to their individual work assignments, Strada’s 13 summer interns participated in weekly learning and professional development sessions, received individualized coaching from departmental colleagues as well as assigned executive mentors, and built a professional network among their peers and Strada colleagues.
“What we see and experience here is what we want employers everywhere to see,” said Chantée Eldridge, Strada senior vice president of learner engagement and chief community officer. “Conversion to full-time employment isn’t the only measure of a successful internship, and we know that students can add value with salient projects, building relationships, and increased confidence. We’re creating opportunities for learners to discover what they can become.”
CONVENING: Strada hosted at its Indianapolis headquarters representatives from the eight universities participating in the Innovation in Career Services grants. Together, the career services professionals learned how these institutions are incorporating outcomes data and labor market information into career guidance, empowering students for the education-to-career journey, and activating networks and relationships to enhance career guidance.
GRANT APPLICATION: Strada is among eight education foundations joining forces to launch the Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund, managed by Panorama Global. The initiative invests in organizations that are reimagining how postsecondary education is designed, delivered, financed, and assessed. Applications are open through Sept. 14, 2026.
VISUAL STORY: Where does a state’s talent come from? Nationally, 55 percent of college-educated talent is homegrown — individuals who work in the state where they both attended high school and earned their bachelor’s or graduate degree. Based on recent Strada research, this visual story tracks where working-age adults with college degrees end up.
Strada Education Foundation, 10 W. Market Street, Suite 1100, Indianapolis, IN 46204
