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Top Hat Summer Camp is over for another year.
Watch the 2024 edition recordings using the button below.

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The First Day of Class is a Big Deal

Learn best practices for sparking curiosity and engaging students in your course—from the first day of class and beyond!

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Professional Development

Earn a certificate to put towards your faculty development hours.

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Innovative Keynotes

Hear from acclaimed experts leading the charge on student success.

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Faculty Insights

See how fellow instructors are creating community and engaging students.

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Teaching Best Practices

Get hands-on guidance on putting the power of Top Hat to work in your course.

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What's New with Top Hat

Learn how we’re improving math readiness across disciplines and enabling AI-powered teaching and learning.

Starting the Term

Starting the Term

What’s New with Top Hat

Clare Castro, Top Hat

Heather Taylor, Top Hat

Teaching a Great First Day of Class

Host:

Dr. Bradley Cohen, Top Hat

Presenter:

Dr. James Lang,
Educator and Author

Faculty Insights: Launching the Learning Journey

Host:

Michael Di Gregorio, Top Hat

Presenters:

Donna Smith,
Sierra College

Samantha Bickert,
University of Nevada

What’s New with Top Hat

Clare Castro, Top Hat

Heather Taylor, Top Hat

Teaching a Great First Day of Class

Host:

Dr. Bradley Cohen, Top Hat

Presenter:

Dr. James Lang,
Educator and Author

Faculty Insights: Launching the Learning Journey

Host:

Michael Di Gregorio, Top Hat

Presenters:

Donna Smith,
Sierra College

Samantha Bickert,
University of Nevada

Engaging Students In and Out of Class

Engaging Students In and Out of Class

Faculty Insights: Creating a Dynamic Lecture Experience

Host:

Sumi Voora, Top Hat

Presenters:

Dr. Joel Stake,
Louisiana Tech University

Dr. Allison M. Wiedemeier,
University of Louisiana

Crafting and Customizing Content with Top Hat

Host:

Karen Csaba, Top Hat

Presenter:

Dr. Linda M. Rodríguez,
University of Puerto Rico

Faculty Insights: Creating a Dynamic Lecture Experience

Host:

Sumi Voora, Top Hat

Presenters:

Dr. Joel Stake,
Louisiana Tech University

Dr. Allison M. Wiedemeier,
University of Louisiana

Crafting and Customizing Content with Top Hat

Host:

Karen Csaba, Top Hat

Presenter:

Dr. Linda M. Rodríguez,
University of Puerto Rico

Setting the Stage for Student Success

Setting the Stage for Student Success

Strengthening Student Learning Skills in the Age of AI

Host:

Dr. Bradley Cohen, Top Hat

Presenter:

Dr. Linda Nilson,
Educator and Author

Faculty Insights: Assignments and Assessments that Motivate and Engage

Host:

Hayley Ryan, Top Hat

Presenters:

Dr. Whitney Sivils-Sawyer,
Louisiana Tech University

Dr. Elizabeth Sargent,
University of Delaware

Strengthening Student Learning Skills in the Age of AI

Host:

Dr. Bradley Cohen, Top Hat

Presenter:

Dr. Linda Nilson,
Educator and Author

Faculty Insights: Assignments and Assessments that Motivate and Engage

Host:

Hayley Ryan, Top Hat

Presenters:

Dr. Whitney Sivils-Sawyer,
Louisiana Tech University

Dr. Elizabeth Sargent,
University of Delaware

Keynote Speakers

James Lang

Dr. James Lang

Educator and
Author of Distracted
 

James M. Lang, PhD, is the author of six books, including Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It and Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning. He also writes a monthly column on teaching and learning for The Chronicle of Higher Education. A dynamic and highly sought-after public speaker, Lang has delivered conference keynotes and workshops on teaching at more than a hundred colleges, universities, and high schools in the United States and abroad.

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Linda Nilson

Dr. Linda Nilson

Educator and Author of
Creating Self-Regulated
Learners

Linda B. Nilson is Director Emeritus of the Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation at Clemson University and author of a number of influential books, including Specifications Grading: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, and Saving Faculty Time and Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students’ Self-Awareness and Learning Skills. Passionate about sharing her insights, Nilson has delivered over 500 keynotes, webinars, and live workshops at conferences, colleges, and universities both nationally and internationally.

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Bradley Cohen

Bradley Cohen

Chief Academic Officer,
Top Hat
 

As Top Hat’s Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Bradley Cohen provides advocacy and guidance to support Top Hat’s product innovation, publishing, and institutional engagement strategy. Prior to Top Hat, Cohen served as the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Ohio University. Before that, he advanced instructional innovation and technology for 15 years at the University of Minnesota as the head of the Center for Educational Innovation and Associate CIO for Academic Technology.

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Clare Castro

Clare Castro

Sr. Product
Marketing Manager,
Top Hat

With nearly two decades in higher education publishing and educational technology, Clare Castro has a wealth of experience bringing innovative educational solutions to market. As a Senior Product Marketing Manager, she works closely with Top Hat’s Product, Sales, and Customer Success teams on the launch of new features for students and educators. Prior to joining Top Hat, she held a variety of marketing, customer success, and market development roles with Oxford University Press and McGraw-Hill.

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Heather Taylor

Heather Taylor

Sr. Director of
Product Marketing,
Top Hat

As the Senior Director of Product Marketing, Heather Taylor is responsible for leading programs, research and go-to-market strategies to increase the impact of Top Hat across institutions, and with faculty, and students. Prior to Top Hat, Taylor was the Manager, Global Product Marketing at Pearson where she was responsible for global strategic planning and end-to-end product marketing for the company’s digital solutions.

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Faculty Presenters

Allison M. Wiedemeier

Dr. Allison M. Wiedemeier

Biology Program
Coordinator,
University of Louisiana

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Donna Smith

Donna Smith

Department of Mathematics,
Sierra College

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Elizabeth Sargent

Dr. Elizabeth Sargent

School of Marine Science
& Policy,
University of Delaware

Joel Stake

Dr. Joel Stake

Director of Honors &
Senior Lecturer,
Louisiana Tech University

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Linda M. Rodríguez

Dr. Linda M. Rodríguez

Department of English,
University of Puerto Rico

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Samantha Bickert

Samantha Bickert

Lecturer, College of Business,
University of Nevada

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Whitney Sivils-Sawyer

Dr. Whitney Sivils-Sawyer

Director, Center for
Instructional Technology,
Louisiana Tech University

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Top Hat Hosts

Michael Di Gregorio

Michael Di Gregorio

Director of Professional
Services, Top Hat

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Hayley Ryan

Hayley Ryan

Manager of Customer
Onboarding, Top Hat

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Sumi Voora

Sumi Voora

Professional Services
Manager, Top Hat

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Karen Csaba

Karen Csaba

Project Manager, Custom
Publishing, Top Hat

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