Story of the GitHub Campus Experts Program - Joe Nash
In this episode, we’re diving into the GitHub Campus Experts Program with Joe Nash, who walks us through its impact on the DevRel community.
GitHub Campus Experts Program: A Repository of Knowledge
Joe Nash introduces the GitHub Campus Experts Program, discussing its key goals and contributions to the developer relations space. One of the program's primary strengths is its creation of a knowledge repository. Campus Experts document event outcomes using issue templates, detailing what worked well, challenges faced, and key takeaways. This ensures a continuity of knowledge as student leaders transition through the program, leaving valuable insights for future participants.
Building Communities with Campus Experts
Joe highlighted the program’s focus on fostering a close-knit community. Alumni often stay engaged even after graduating, contributing to a collaborative network. Joe shared examples of collective efforts, like a slide deck built using a JavaScript framework by multiple campus experts. The program's approach is hands-off—instead of teaching Git directly, it empowers students to become software engineers, where Git becomes an integral tool in their journey.
Empowering Students, Not Exploiting Passion
A guiding principle of the GitHub Campus Experts Program is empowerment without exploitation. Joe emphasized the importance of not taking advantage of students’ passion. The program encourages students to build their own communities while ensuring they gain valuable skills, support, and recognition for their efforts.
Force Multipliers and Hands-Off Approach
Joe discussed the concept of force multipliers within the Campus Experts Program—student leaders who amplify GitHub’s reach by engaging their own communities. This strategy enables GitHub to tap into a broader audience without directly managing every engagement. The hands-off approach allows students to naturally encounter and adopt GitHub’s tools as they grow in their software engineering journeys.
Advice for DevRel and Program Managers
Joe provided key advice for those creating community programs. Understanding the student journey is essential; program events should avoid conflicts with exams, deadlines, and other academic pressures. Additionally, he stressed the importance of thinking about the varying needs of students at different stages of their academic careers. For first-year students, a program may offer introductory content, while third-year students might focus on job preparation.
Takeaways for Students
- Focus on Problem-Solving: As you consider a career in DevRel, concentrate on solving problems for your community rather than mastering specific products. DevRel is about empowering people through your work.
- Leverage the Power of Community: The GitHub Campus Experts Program is a prime example of how communities can grow and sustain knowledge through collaboration and documentation.
- Hands-On Learning: Build your technical and community skills by engaging directly with community-led events. Like the GitHub Campus Experts, learn by doing.
Conclusion
Joe Nash’s journey with the GitHub Campus Experts Program offers valuable lessons on empowering student leaders, fostering a collaborative environment, and ensuring the sustainability of knowledge in developer communities. His insights into the program’s ideology, operational aspects, and community impact are invaluable for anyone interested in DevRel.