Published on: May 4, 2026
An ATIXA Testimonial by Catherine Conard, MBA, SHRM-CP, Eastern Wyoming College
When people ask where I went recently, and I say, “Title IX training,” it surprises me how excited I get about it. I always joke that I’m truly an HR nerd because I had so much fun. Even though the subject matter is serious and sometimes difficult, the experience itself was engaging, thoughtful, and genuinely energizing for me.
I’m new to my position as Human Resources Director at Eastern Wyoming College, a small community college in a town of about 7,000 people that serves around 2,000 students. Because of the size of our institution, I wear more than one hat. In addition to serving as HR Director, I’m also the Title IX Coordinator. When I applied for the position, part of the job description was that I would receive training, and I knew I wanted to get fully trained so I could support our campus effectively.
That’s what led me to attend ATIXA’s Winter Symposium, where I earned three certifications: Title IX Coordinator Foundations Level One, Title IX Investigation Foundations Level Two, and Title IX Compliance and Athletics for Higher Education. I want to understand both the coordinator and investigator roles, as I may be responsible for both depending on the situation. I also chose the athletics training because our college has several athletic programs, and I wanted to make sure I could support them appropriately.
The Value of Learning In Person
One thing that made a huge difference was being able to attend in person. I enjoy engaging directly with people while I’m learning. The instructors were incredible and made time for questions and case studies throughout the sessions. As someone new to the field from a strictly HR background, it was extremely helpful to see what a day in the life of a Title IX coordinator or investigator looks like.
The case studies especially stuck with me. The instructors were great at presenting situations that pushed you to consider things from different perspectives and reflect on how circumstances can shape how events are interpreted.
One case study that stayed with me involved a couple who seemed to have a long-standing understanding in their relationship. One night, a change in their environment challenged that assumption and ultimately led to a Title IX investigation. The lesson that resonated with me was that prior agreement does not imply future consent. Consent must be present each time. This insight reshaped how I think about investigations, reinforcing the idea that every incident is situational.
I’ve Never Been a Hand Raiser
Another thing that stood out was how comfortable the ATIXA learning environment felt. Traditionally, I do not ask questions in a classroom setting. But I pushed myself to do it during these trainings because my institution had invested in sending me, and I wanted to get the most out of it so I could come back and serve as a knowledgeable resource for my college.
I remember asking what you do when someone isn’t responding to your outreach, and you can’t get a meeting with them. Even though I worried that my question might sound basic, the presenters took it seriously and answered thoughtfully. They made it clear from the beginning that this training was time for us to ask whatever we needed. That made a big difference.
Conversations, Not Lectures
The instructors had different personalities and approaches to the material, but each created an environment where we felt comfortable engaging. They regularly paused to allow for questions and made themselves available during breaks and even at happy hour for deeper conversations.
At other conferences I’ve attended, once the session ends, the presenters don’t interact with attendees. That was not the experience here at all. It felt like a collaborative conversation, rather than simply paying for information.
The connections with other participants were valuable as well. I exchanged business cards and LinkedIn information with several people and had some great conversations. Though I haven’t had to conduct an investigation yet, it is reassuring to know that when I do, I have people I can reach out to.
Notes, Resources, and Looking Ahead
I left the Symposium with an enormous amount of material and notes. I filled an entire notebook and had to start another one. I downloaded all the course materials so I could make sure I kept everything. Recently, a question came up at my institution, and I was able to go back to those materials right away, which was incredibly helpful.
Looking ahead, I plan to continue training with ATIXA. I’m preparing to take ADA/Section 504 Foundations at the Summer Symposium in Denver, because accessibility is a priority for our institution. My supervisor is even considering attending with me, and we are exploring purchasing the ATIXA Super Membership so we can take advantage of training inclusions and access additional resources like the TIXKit.
Why I Recommend ATIXA: There’s Always More to Learn
My biggest takeaway is that I wish I could have stayed another week and taken even more training. There are so many topics to learn about, and the courses sparked countless ideas for how I can build and strengthen our institution’s policies and procedures.
I would highly recommend ATIXA to anyone working in HR or Title IX. For me, the experience was professionally well done and personally meaningful. It gave me the confidence, knowledge, and community I was hoping to find as I stepped into this role.