Professor and Alumni, Kevin Wells, Reflects on his ICC Experience
ICC Class of 2010 (CISCO Certified Network Associate and CISCO Certified Network Professional)
Also attended Illinois State University, where I earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. I am a Professor at Illinois Central College.
Tell us about the career path that led you to your current job.
After completing my bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University in Information Technology, I went to Illinois Central College to focus more on computer networking. Specifically, I focused on Cisco Networking. After completing two certificates at ICC, I got a job in the industry at Heart Technologies for a short while before being offered a faculty position teaching Cisco Networking for ICC.
How did ICC shape your future or help you attain your professional goals?
ICC gave me more hands-on and specialized training than what I had received at ISU. It was far more career focused. Additionally, all the courses I took were aligned to industry certifications which I obtained after studying at ICC. Specifically, the CCNA and the CCNP certifications, among others.
What does it mean to you to be able to teach at ICC and educate future ICC alumni?
It’s very rewarding to be able to help students gain the knowledge and skills to be able to find career opportunities in and around the Peoria area.
What advice would you give current students at ICC to succeed?
Get as much hands-on experience as possible to help you master IT skills. Get certified to add to your resume and validate the knowledge and skills you’ve learned with potential employers.