Caleb Zender builds a diverse skill set through Ohio Technology Consortium student employment

Caleb Zender has sought a variety of experiences on his academic and professional journey. A fourth-year student at The Ohio State University, he’s pursuing a degree in engineering physics with a focus on mechanical engineering, alongside a minor in music—a balance of science and creativity that reflects his broad range of interests. 

Throughout his collegiate experience, Zender has held multiple off-campus jobs and student leadership roles, including two positions with the Ohio Technology Consortium (OH-TECH). His path to OH-TECH began when he discovered a job opportunity on Ohio State’s Workday platform. He did some research, applied and soon secured his first position at the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) as a student administrative assistant.  

Zender quickly made an impact at OSC, providing logistical and operational support for large events like the youth summer STEM institutes, PEARC24 conference and the Ohio State Fair. 

“He hit the ground running,” said Tammi Hysell, administrative manager at OSC. “He provided hands-on, day-of coordination of operational duties for the summer institutes, assisted with organizing booth shipments for PEARC24, and played a key role in the setup for the Ohio State Fair, managing the shipment of materials and acting as the lead technical support for TV monitor setups.” 

Hysell praised Zender’s willingness to help, noting that “he was fantastic—he was always willing to help wherever and whenever possible. His contributions were very much appreciated.” 

Reflecting on his time with OSC, Zender emphasized how lucky he was to work with the team. “I worked with great people and contributed to projects that really made an impact,” he said. 

Zender’s journey with OH-TECH did not stop there. He later transitioned to a more technical role at OARnet, where he now helps manage inventory, packaging and shipping networking equipment to universities and public offices across Ohio. This experience, combining both administrative and technical tasks, has given him “a truly well-rounded perspective,” as he describes it. 

Hope Harrison, asset data manager at OARnet, said Caleb is always eager to help, with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.  

“He handles a variety of tasks—whether it’s preparing shipments, configuring equipment or managing inventory data—and he approaches every task with focus and precision. He has just about every good attribute you could think of in a person,” she said. 

Looking ahead, Zender hopes his time at OH-TECH will be instrumental in achieving his next goal upon graduation: enrolling in graduate school for aerospace engineering.  

“It’s an incredible résumé builder,” he said. “The real-world, hands-on experience I’ve gained will be invaluable when I step into my career.” 

For students considering a job at OH-TECH, Zender has simple advice: “Do it.” He emphasizes the welcoming atmosphere, flexible scheduling and the opportunity to work on meaningful projects.  

“It’s not just busywork—what we do here matters,” he said. “And as a student, you still have time to focus on your studies while contributing to real-world tasks.” 

Written by Lexi Biasi