Published on: July 7, 2026
An ATIXA Testimonial by Charles Ludwig, MLIS, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
After 25 years in the U.S. Navy, I learned to value a strong community. In the military, community is built into everything you do. You have people to lean on, train with, and overcome challenges alongside. When I transitioned into Title IX work, I realized that kind of built-in network doesn’t naturally exist. That is, until I found ATIXA.
When I began researching ATIXA and its in-person training and certification events, the sense of community stood out immediately. I expected to gain knowledge, but I also wanted to connect with others who understand the nuances of this work in ways few people do.
Training That Becomes Action
At ATIXA’s Winter Symposium, I completed certifications in Title IX Compliance and Athletics for Higher Education, Title IX Coordinator Foundations Level One, and Title IX Coordinator Foundations Level Two.
The sessions delivered exactly what I needed: practical guidance grounded in real-world application, with a strong focus on athletics and broader equity considerations. I left with a clearer understanding of how to refine a Title IX program to be more efficient, intentional, and consistent. The ideas felt manageable, but the challenge would be implementing them. To borrow a military phrase, I would have to identify the insertion points.
The courses encouraged us to consider integrating Title IX work more intentionally across campus. In practice, this could mean identifying potential partners willing to serve as investigators or decision-makers in less complex cases, thereby streamlining processes, reducing costs, and increasing institutional involvement. It takes a certain craft to ask your colleagues to do work beyond their daily tasks, and ATIXA helped me refine that nuanced skill.
Why Real-Time Feedback Helps
Attending ATIXA training in person allowed for real conversation, deeper understanding, and immediate feedback. There is a level of engagement that happens when you are in the room with people that you do not get in an online setting. At the Symposium, I could hear how others approached similar challenges, ask them follow-up questions, and have informal conversations in real time between sessions, which added depth. Those side conversations were just as valuable as the formal training.
I found myself taking notes not only on the content, but on how it was delivered. The examples, the framing, and the way complex topics were explained are things I can apply directly to my work. It is one thing to understand the material. It is another to see it modeled in a way that truly engages an audience.
The presenters were experienced, approachable, and clearly understood the realities of the coordinator role. Many have served as coordinators themselves, which showed in the way they taught and responded to questions. I never hesitated or noticed others hesitating to ask a question or explore an idea further.
A Willingness to be Proactive
One of the most important shifts that began in my perspective is moving from a reactive to a more intentional approach. In this work, it is easy to spend your time responding to reports and managing immediate needs. That can mean that training, outreach, and long-term program development fall behind. Training with ATIXA reinforced the importance of staying proactive. Building stronger educational efforts, increasing awareness, and creating more effective systems will ultimately strengthen the entire program, and ATIXA has renewed my dedication to staying ahead of the game.
If you are looking to advance your Title IX program while building your community, I strongly recommend engaging with ATIXA and attending in-person events such as the Summer Symposium or the Annual Conference. The value extends well beyond the sessions and continues long after you return to your desk.
Enroll in an ATIXA training or certification course today.