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Join us for two days of interactive faculty
workshops and industry-leading keynotes

October 26–27, 2023

San Diego Mission Bay Resort
1775 East Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109

Register Now* *Attendance limited to the first 120 registrants

October 26–27, 2023

October 26–27, 2023

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Education is the key to unleashing potential. But that can’t happen without students—and professors—feeling supported and valued. How do we ensure our classrooms are places of community? Places that invite curiosity and discovery? Places where every student has the opportunity to share their voice and realize their aspirations? 

Join 100+ fellow instructors for hands-on workshops and peer-led presentations. Plus, hear from higher ed changemakers leading the charge to ensure that every classroom is a place where students are welcomed, engaged and motivated. When it comes to improving the craft of teaching, Top Hat Engage is where learning belongs.

  • Day 1

    Thursday, October 26, 2023

  • 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

    Registration, Check-in & Focus Groups (Optional)

  • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    The Art of the Possible: High-Impact Teaching with Top Hat (Optional)

    Caitlin Shea-Vantine, Top Hat

    Sravanti Kantheti, Lanier Technical College

    Ninetta Papadomichelaki & Lash Keith Vance, University of California, Riverside

  • 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM

    Teaching with Top Hat Workshop (Optional)

    Top Hat Instructional Design Team

    Track 1: Top Hat Fundamentals

    • Getting Started with Top Hat
    • Engaging Students in Class
    • Extending Engagement Outside of Class

    Track 2: Optimizing Your Use of Top Hat

    • Foundations of Intentional Course Design
    • Improving Course Delivery with Insights
    • Dynamic Learning with Interactive Content
  • 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

    Opening Cocktail Reception

  • Day 2

    Friday, October 27, 2023

  • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

    Breakfast & Registration

  • 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

    Welcome Address & Morning Keynote: Teaching in the Age of AI

    Joe Rohrlich, Chief Executive Officer, Top Hat

    Jesse Stommel, Author and Teaching Faculty, University of Denver

  • 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

    From Surviving to Thriving: Creating Communities of Care

    Katie Dawson, Drama and Theatre, University of Texas at Austin

  • 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

    What's New with Top Hat

    Clare Castro, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Top Hat

    Alison Rodal, Group Product Manager, Top Hat

  • 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

    Birds of a Feather Luncheon

  • 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

    Breakout Sessions

    I Assigned Students 1,000 Homework Problems and Lived to Tell the Tale

    Dr. Stephanie Dillon,
    Chemistry,
    Florida State University

    Using Evidence-Based Teaching to Cultivate Community

    Dr. Bradley Cohen,
    Chief Academic Officer,
    Top Hat

    Dr. Demian Hommel,
    Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences,
    Oregon State University

    Blended, Hybrid & Hyflex: Finding the Right Balance

    Dr. Safieh Moghaddam,
    Assistant Professor, Linguistics
    University of Toronto

    Dr. Krystle Phirangee,
    Senior Educational Developer,
    University of Toronto

  • 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

    Breakout Sessions

    Enhancing Safety and Learning through the Power of Story

    Dr. Jeffrey Klausman,
    English Composition and Literature,
    Whatcom Community College

    From Passive to Active: Reaching and Re-engaging Students with Top Hat

    Antonia S. Ingram-Basby,
    Geography and Anthropology,
    Louisiana State University

    From Mandatory to Memorable: A Course Redesign Journey

    Dr. Amber McEachern,
    Kinesiology,
    East Carolina University

  • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    Transforming Assessment to Motivate and Engage Students

    José Antonio Bowen, Award-Winning Educator and Author

  • 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

    Where Learning Belongs

    Dr. Bradley Cohen, Chief Academic Officer, Top Hat

  • 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

    Closing Cocktail Reception

All times in PDT. Please note the agenda is subject to change.

Mainstage & Breakout Session Presenters

Frequently Asked Questions

Who attends Top Hat Engage?

Top Hat Engage is designed for educators across all disciplines who value improving teaching and learning in the service of furthering student success. Faculty will benefit from the inspirational keynotes, hands-on workshops and tips and strategies generated from our breakout sessions. Academic administrators will get a sneak peek at the ins and outs of the educational technology increasingly shaping learning across North American campuses.

What does it cost to attend Top Hat Engage San Diego?

Conference registration is free and includes all conference programming and meals. Tickets are limited to the first 120 registrants.

Top Hat has secured a conference hotel rate of $279 USD per night plus applicable taxes and a resort fee of $15. This special rate is available for conference guests during the conference, as well as 3 days pre- and post-event based on availability of standard rooms.

Where will Top Hat Engage San Diego be held?

Both the conference and hotel will be held at the award-winning Mission Bay Resort at 1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109. The Mission Bay Resort boasts its own white sand beach, poolside cabanas, a state-of-the-art fitness center, wellness spa and much more.

Will meals be provided during the conference?

Yes, all food and beverage will be provided to attendees. This includes the welcome reception on Thursday, as well as breakfast, lunch and closing reception on Friday.

Do you have a letter that I can use to request approval from my institution?

Top Hat Engage is the place to learn new strategies and make new connections. We’ve put together a letter to show the value of this conference and request funding. You can download it here.

How do I get to the San Diego Mission Bay resort from the airport?

The hotel is just under 7 miles from the airport and can easily be reached, in about 15 minutes, by rideshare or taxi.

Will a shuttle service be available for attendees?

Not at this time, but we will update this space if things change.

Who can I contact about questions on this event and my registration?

You can reach out to events@tophatmonocle.com. Please allow 24 hours for us to respond to your request.

Where can I find more information about Top Hat events?

Please feel free to check out our events page to learn more about our in person and virtual events.

Join a community of 750+ campuses that use Top Hat
Auburn University
Rutgers University
California State University
University of Florida
University of Buffalo
Vanderbilt University
Indiana University
University of Georgia