Beyond the Degree Scott Wills on Affordability, Career Readiness, and the Defiance College Experience

A college education should do more than lead to a diploma. It should prepare students for careers, relationships, opportunities, and the communities they will help shape after graduation. In this episode of Taylor Community Connection, Tom Cole sits down with Scott Wills, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Defiance College, to talk about the momentum building on campus and how the college is helping students prepare for what comes next.

For Scott, one of the qualities that makes Defiance College special is its sense of community and togetherness. Families have sent multiple generations to the college, students develop lasting relationships, and faculty and staff create an environment where individuals are known and supported.

That sense of community is being matched by growing momentum. Founded in 1850, Defiance College recently celebrated its 175th anniversary and has welcomed two of its largest incoming classes of the past decade in consecutive years. The newest class includes more than 300 students, reflecting what Scott sees as growing recognition of the value a Defiance College education can provide.

Making College More Affordable

With the cost of higher education becoming an increasing concern for families, Scott explains that affordability has become an important part of Defiance College's approach.

One example is the 1850 Promise, named for the year the college was founded. The program is designed to work with eligible students and families, particularly those here in Northwest Ohio, to create a pathway toward a college education without being surprised by overwhelming debt at graduation.

It is part of a larger effort to remind families that an educational opportunity may be much closer and more attainable than they realize. Defiance College recruits students from across the country, but Scott says the college has placed renewed emphasis on serving its own backyard and making sure Northwest Ohio families understand the opportunities available to them.

Preparing for a Career From Day One

Affordability is only part of the equation. Students also need to know their education is preparing them for the workforce.

That is where Jacket Journey comes in.

Rather than waiting until junior or senior year to begin talking about resumes, interviews, and employment, Defiance College begins career readiness during a student's freshman year and continues that development throughout all four years.

Scott explains that Jacket Journey also involves listening directly to employers throughout the region. Businesses and organizations can help identify gaps between the skills they want from college graduates and what they are currently seeing in applicants.

Defiance College can then incorporate those needs into student development, covering areas such as professionalism, entrepreneurship, interpersonal skills, artificial intelligence, and industry specific knowledge.

The goal is not simply to help a student earn a degree. It is to help that student graduate prepared to put that education to work.

Connecting College and Community

Throughout the conversation, Scott and Tom return to the importance of relationships.

For Defiance College, career readiness is not something that happens entirely within the classroom. Local employers and community organizations can play an important role in helping students understand what will be expected of them after graduation.

That creates a cycle that can benefit the entire region. Northwest Ohio students have an opportunity to pursue their education close to home, businesses help shape the skills needed in the workforce, and graduates can return to those communities ready to contribute.

Scott describes it as creating a pathway for students to go to school in the region and then come back and serve the region.

The People Behind the Programs

Programs like the 1850 Promise and Jacket Journey can create opportunities, but Scott believes their success ultimately comes back to people.

He credits the leadership of Defiance College President Dr. Richanne Mankey, who recently celebrated 10 years with the college, along with dedicated faculty and staff who have created continuity and a culture centered on students.

Tom also shares his family's own connection to Defiance College. His niece attended the school, competed as a pole vaulter, earned her degree, and moved directly into a career in computer forensics. For Tom, her experience demonstrates exactly what Scott is describing: an education that combines academics, athletics, personal development, and preparation for a career.

That preparation is increasingly important in a world where earning a degree alone does not guarantee someone will feel ready for their first job.

Defiance College is working to close that gap by combining affordability, academics, career preparation, extracurricular experiences, and strong relationships into one college experience.

For Scott, the momentum happening on campus is ultimately about creating opportunities for students and strengthening the region around them.

👉 Watch now to hear Scott Wills share how Defiance College is making higher education more accessible, connecting students with employers, and preparing Yellow Jackets for careers and life beyond graduation.