In this energizing episode, we explore the journey of a mainframe professional who has embraced innovation while making advocacy and mentorship central to their mission. This story highlights the power of mainframes in the AI era and the support gained from trailblazing women mentors. It showcases themes of growth, inclusion, and the global connections within the mainframe community. The episode emphasizes that mainframes are not just relevant; they are essential. Whether you are new to enterprise tech or a long-time enthusiast, this episode will inspire you and illuminate what it means to be a mainframer today.

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This episode features Geoffrey Decker, an instructor in Computer Science at the Northern Illinois University (NIU) and a firm believer in quality over quantity when teaching programming. Geoffrey encourages getting students “down and dirty into the programming” — not just teaching theory or showing pictures — so they truly “program and really test their skills.”

His goal?

Geoffrey wants students to learn so well that “they can teach themselves advanced techniques.”

Advice to educators:

His message is clear: “No teacher of programming should just be a droner. Don’t drone — bring your enthusiasm and a solid, positive attitude to teaching.” This mindset transformed his tough Assembler class into an engaging experience that sparked students’ interest to sign up for and continue with advanced Mainframe courses.

Don’t miss the rapid-fire questions at the end — you won’t believe how many vinyl LPs and CDs he owns! If you guess right, let me know!!

🎧 Don’t miss this motivating conversation with Geoffrey!

Resources

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Subscribe to “The z/Education!” Podcast. Each month we talk to IBM Z Educators from around the world on their success stories, journeys and their best practices.

This episode features Scott Piersall, a lecturer at the University of North Florida’s School of Computing. Scott’s journey into academia is anything but traditional—after high school, he had no plans to attend college. But after years of experience in the industry, he discovered a passion for teaching and is now pursuing a Ph.D. with a focus on machine learning.

The lifelong learning takeaway? Keep your mind and options open—to new ideas, new directions, and new possibilities.

Scott encourages his students to be bold, reminding them: “The answer is always No until you ask.” His message to mainframe professionals thinking about moving into academia is just as clear: “Don’t hesitate! Go for it—it’s fun and deeply rewarding!”

🎧 Don’t miss this compelling conversation with Scott!

Resources

Visit the IBM Z Educator Hub User Group on the IBM Z and LinuxONE Community for IBM Z educators to find the latest communications, news and events, as well as collaborate and network. Check out technical lecture’s, blogs, events, videos, discussions, and more.

Join here

Subscribe to “The z/Education!” Podcast. Each month we talk to IBM Z Educators from around the world on their success stories, journeys and their best practices.