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Jane McCormick is serving as Olney Central College’s new Information Systems Technology (IST) Instructor.
An Olney native, McCormick possesses both technical and educational experience in the field. After graduating from college, she began her career with AT&T and later moved to its subsidiary Lucent Technologies in Naperville. McCormick served as a software engineer working at the telecommunications equipment firm before transitioning into technical management.
During her career at AT&T / Lucent Technologies, McCormick completed both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from North Central College in Naperville.
“After I left the corporate world, I felt like I wanted to take the experience and knowledge I had gained over the years and use it to help others,” she said. “I went to an open house at Aurora University in Aurora, Ill., and the presentation on the educational program they offered really excited me. I immediately started working on my education degree and earned a Master’s degree in Education from Aurora University.”
After receiving her degree, McCormick taught multiple computer related classes in the Naperville School District for several years, and now is looking forward to working with students at a higher, collegiate level.
“I enjoy being able to apply what I learned for so many years and knowing that I can help prepare students for the future,” she said. “I hope to show them how great an opportunity exists in the computer related field. After finishing the IST program, the students can get a job in the field or continue to a university and complete a four-year degree in several different computer related fields. There is a huge demand for graduates in the computer related field including IST as well as many others at all levels. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in medicine, art, or any of the hundreds of different areas, you can take the things you’ve learned while obtaining your IST degree and apply them to multiple areas because IST is everywhere.”
As an additional goal, McCormick hopes to attract more female students as women continue to be underrepresented in the computer field.
“The shortage of females in the computer industry is getting worse, instead of better,” McCormick said. “We need to do more to engage them. Computer related careers are for everyone and should not be seen as gender based.”
In her previous teaching career, McCormick established a Girls Who Code Club for students in Naperville to address the lack of females in the field. The national organization aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science by equipping them with the necessary computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. McCormick is currently working with the Richland County Middle School to create a chapter here.
“I’m excited to market the program showing the huge need for IST to future students in the community by attending career fairs or any other opportunities available for marketing,” she said. “The Information Systems Technology program is already drawing students from surrounding communities — including Fairfield, Lawrenceville and Louisville — with a goal of expanding. This is a great program, and I am excited to watch it grow. Former instructor PJ (Zeilstra) did a wonderful job setting it up. There is a huge growth potential for computer programs such as IST at OCC. This is a great beginning. My job is to carry it to the next level.”
McCormick resides in Olney with her husband, Mark, a local attorney. They have two grown sons residing in the area.
