From student to community leader: OHIO alumna helps connect campus and community through ECO Center

For Angie Hannahs, walking into the ECO Center on the grounds of Ohio University Eastern brings her professional journey full circle.

Nearly four decades ago, Hannahs began her college education at OHIO Eastern, building the foundation for a career that would take her from high school English teacher to school superintendent. Today, as director of operations for the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, she helps oversee a facility that has transformed a familiar campus landmark into a regional destination for education, health care, wellness and community engagement.

"My OHIO story started at Ohio University Eastern, where I studied from 1987 to 1989," Hannahs said. "Starting at a regional campus gave me a close-knit, supportive place to build a foundation."

Hannahs transferred to Ohio University's Athens campus and earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1991. Her career in education began in the classroom and eventually led to district leadership, experiences that continue to influence her approach to serving students and communities.

"That path taught me to put students and community first, and that great opportunities can start close to home," she said.

After retiring from education in 2023, Hannahs joined the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center (ESC) as director of operations, a position that includes overseeing the ECO Center. In her current role, Hannahs continues to build on the student- and community-centered approach that guided her career in education.

"I enjoy seeing a building I once knew as a campus gym become a place where students, families, healthcare providers, businesses and neighbors cross paths every day," Hannahs said.

A familiar campus landmark with a renewed purpose

Formerly Ohio University Eastern's Health and Physical Education Center, the facility was acquired by the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center and redeveloped to serve a broader range of community needs.

Supported by a $3 million grant from the Appalachian Community Grant Program, the building underwent a yearlong renovation that improved existing facilities and created new spaces for community organizations, businesses and service providers.

Today, the ECO Center serves as a gathering place for education, athletics, health services and community events, while maintaining its longstanding connection to OHIO Eastern.

For Jennifer Kellner-Muscar, dean of campus and community engagement at Ohio University Eastern, the facility's transformation reflects the importance of partnerships that benefit students and the region.

"The ECO Center is an excellent example of how community partnerships can create new opportunities while building on the resources already available in our region," Kellner-Muscar said. "Having these services and amenities just steps from our campus enhances the experience for our students, faculty and staff while strengthening Ohio University Eastern's connection to the communities we serve."

The relationship between OHIO Eastern and the ESC began with shared goals of expanding educational opportunities, supporting workforce development and maintaining the building as a resource for the region.

An important part of that relationship is the continuation of OHIO Eastern's annual graduation recognition ceremony at the ECO Center, allowing the University to maintain a longstanding campus tradition in a familiar setting.

For Hannahs, preserving that connection has special significance.

"A building that has served this community for years is still in use and continues to be a part of campus life," she said.

Enhancing the student experience

For OHIO Eastern students, the ECO Center provides convenient access to dining and gathering spaces just a short walk from their classrooms.

The ECO Center Café, which proudly serves Starbucks coffee, has become a destination for students looking for a morning coffee, a place to study or an opportunity to connect with classmates between classes.

The recent opening of Giovanni's West has expanded those options, offering affordable breakfast and lunch selections, including pastries, sandwiches, pasta, salads and soups.

These amenities provide convenient options for students, faculty and staff while also welcoming community members to the campus grounds.

"Students are at the heart of the ECO Center, and amenities like the ECO Center Café and Giovanni's West make it somewhere people want to be rather than just pass through," Hannahs said.

Beyond dining, the ECO Center brings together health care providers, athletic organizations and community services in one location.

Ohio Hills Health Centers offers medical, dental and behavioral health services, while Edwards Absolute Kinetics provides physical therapy and wellness services. The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference also maintains a presence in the facility, supporting regional athletics and bringing additional activity to the center.

The St. Clairsville School District is another important partner, leasing space within the ECO Center for its athletic and arts programs. This arrangement provides additional opportunities for local students while strengthening the center's connection to K-12 education and the surrounding community.

Together, these organizations contribute to the ECO Center's role as a destination where students and community members can access services, participate in activities and connect with others.

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Supporting education and community connections

The ECO Center's impact extends beyond its daily services through events and programs that bring together schools, businesses, organizations and residents throughout the Ohio Valley.

The facility hosts professional development conferences, athletic events, banquets and commencement ceremonies for OHIO Eastern, Belmont Career Center and St. Clairsville High School.

For Hannahs, events that support young people and connect them with educational opportunities are particularly meaningful.

She points to the Belmont County Spelling Bee and Belmont-Harrison Career and Transition Expo as examples of how the facility continues to serve students and families across the region.

These activities reflect the broader mission of the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, which supports school districts and agencies across seven counties.

The organization's guiding principle of "helping schools help students" now extends beyond traditional classroom settings through the ECO Center's partnerships and programming.

"The relationship helps both organizations," Hannahs said. "OHIO University Eastern students have health services, dining and event space within a short walk. The ECO Center benefits from the activity and visibility of a college campus. Together we can serve students and community members better than either of us could on our own."

Building partnerships that strengthen the region

The ECO Center's transformation also demonstrates how collaboration among educational institutions, public organizations and local businesses can expand access to services and make better use of existing community resources.

Dr. Lewatis McNeal, vice provost of regional higher education and partnerships at Ohio University, sees the relationship as an example of the University's broader commitment to serving the communities of southeastern and eastern Ohio.

"Ohio University's regional campuses play an important role in connecting higher education with the needs of the communities they serve," McNeal said. "The relationship between OHIO Eastern and the ECO Center demonstrates how partnerships can extend the impact of our campuses beyond the classroom, supporting educational access, workforce development and community well-being. These collaborations are essential to creating sustainable opportunities across our region."

For Hannahs, the ECO Center's continued growth represents an opportunity to build on the relationships already established.

Future priorities include expanding programming, strengthening partnerships and exploring additional amenities that respond to community needs. One long-term goal is the development of a natatorium that would provide aquatic services closer to home for Ohio Valley residents.

Hannahs credits the ESC Governing Board and staff, including Superintendent Randy Lucas, Treasurer Matt King and Facilities Manager Mark Cook, along with Ohio University Eastern, community partners and local supporters, for helping make the transformation possible.

As the ECO Center continues to grow, Hannahs remains focused on the same principle that guided her career in education: creating opportunities for students and the communities they call home.

"I'd like the community to know that the ECO Center is here to serve them," Hannahs said. "We want everyone in the Ohio Valley to feel welcome, and we're always open to ideas for making it even more useful."

For an OHIO Eastern alumna who began her educational journey just steps away, helping shape the future of this community resource is another opportunity to demonstrate that meaningful connections and opportunities can begin close to home.

Learn more

Visit theecocenter.org for information about the ECO Center, its services, facilities and upcoming events.