Pre-Conference Sessions
Join CAPCSD during the day Wednesday, April 8 before the Newcomers' Orientation and the Welcome Reception for additional CEUs at our Pre-Conference Sessions! Choose from one half-day morning pre-conference session, and two half-day afternoon sessions.
Each Pre-Conference Session requires a separate registration and payment.
Pre-Conference Sessions
$100 CAPCSD Members & Affiliates / $150 Non-CAPCSD Members.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pathfinding Curriculum: Designing Your Program as a System of Learning (0.40 CEUs)
When designing or redesigning a curriculum, there can be so many influencing factors—professional organization criteria, accrediting standards, clinical requirements, school-specific outcomes, modality, and the like—that it can be difficult to develop programs that are both unique and that function as intentional systems of learning. In this workshop, we’ll explore the process of collaborative instructional design at the curricular level, with the intention of making sense of these complex curricular influences and forging a pathway toward a program that is intentionally designed, unique to your strengths and values, and that equips students for success in their academic and professional work.
Jason Drysdale, Ed.D., M.A.
Dr. Jason Drysdale is the Director of Program Development at the University of Colorado Denver. He earned his Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership in 2018, was OLC’s 2020 recipient of the Excellence in Faculty Development for Online Teaching Award, and is a 2026 CU System Excellence in Leadership Program fellow. Jason's research interests include higher education leadership, organizational structure/culture, instructional design, and convergences of these domains.
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Pipeline to Practice: Audiology Training and Workforce Development (0.40 CEUs)
An extended session to (a) explore the current state of the profession of audiology, quantitatively benchmarked to similar health care professions, (b) discuss needed changes in the old audiology model that are commensurate with the new doctoral degree, and (c) create a new educational outline for the emerging profession.
Victor Bray, M.S.C., Ph.D., FNAP
Victor Bray, M.S.C., Ph.D., FNAP is a Professor in the Osborne Audiology Department in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He is a former Dean of the Osborne College of Audiology (late career), former Vice President for two start-up hearing aid companies (mid-career), and former Director of Clinical Audiology (early career). His research interest is the post-AuD state of the audiology profession.
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Climbing Toward Excellence: Frameworks and Application of Alternative Grading (0.40 CEUs)
Participants will climb toward more equitable grading practices within CSD coursework. Participants will first learn about different alternative grading frameworks and strategies and how they are currently being incorporated into CSD coursework. The facilitators will compare and contrast traditional grading with alternative grading methods and discuss benefits and limitations of both. Participants will discuss concerns and apprehension faculty may experience when considering and implementing alternative grading methods. The workshop will then pivot toward explaining and sharing examples of the four pillars as outlined by Clark and Talbot in their book Grading for Growth. Participants will brainstorm how they can apply the pillars to their courses and work through potential pitfalls. Participants will be challenged to modify an existing assignment or course assessment plan.
Jennifer Essig, M.A., CCC-SLP
Jennifer Essig is the founding graduate program director of speech-language pathology and a clinical associate professor at Indiana University South Bend. She is currently pursuing an EdD in higher education leadership at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO. The focus of her research is how students in CSD programs perceive traditional grading vs. alternative grading practices and if there is a difference between those perceptions based on background.
Alli Sauerwein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Alli Sauerwein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director, and Teaching Excellence Fellow at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) research Alli engages in aims to improve undergraduate and graduate preservice education in speech-language pathology so that all entry-level clinicians feel confident in their clinical reasoning and practice. She is an editorial board member of Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Plenary Sessions
Thursday, April 9, 2026
7:50 AM - 10:00 AM
Supporting Students with Disabilities (0.15 CEUs)
This keynote will provide practical, legal, and ethical guidance for supporting students with disabilities in clinical fieldwork. Drawing on her perspective as both a patient and occupational therapist, Dr. Sorensen will highlight the human impact of inclusive and accessible education. Participants will explore the distinction between technical standards and essential job functions, and learn how to define essential duties when evaluating accommodation requests. The session will outline the interactive accommodation process, emphasizing legal foundations and clarifying the roles of Disability Services, faculty, and clinical educators. Case studies will illustrate ethical complexities such as reasonable accommodations, over- and under-accommodation, and professional appropriateness. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to support students, maintain standards, and ensure compliance.
Kathryn Sorensen, OTD, OTR/L, ADAC
Friday, April 10, 2026
7:50 AM - 10:00 AM
From Vision to Action: Aligning Values, Goals, and Daily Work in Academic Life (0.15 CEUs)
This session will focus on the responsible and effective use of generative AI by students in CSD graduate programs. We will explore how faculty can teach students to use AI tools to enhance their learning experience, improve research skills, and prepare for clinical practice. Strategies for using AI for literature reviews, study assistance, clinical documentation, treatment planning and more will be shared. Academic integrity and the critical thinking skills necessary for evaluating AI-generated content will be discussed. The session will also cover potential pitfalls and ethical considerations that faculty should make students aware of when incorporating AI into their academic and clinical work. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on guiding students to use AI as a complementary tool in their CSD education and future careers.
Katie Linder, M.A., M.S., Ph.D., PMP, RYT, CCP, DASM, PCC
Dr. Katie Linder serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation and Strategy at the University of Colorado Denver. Katie is also a Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She holds a PMP credential from the Project Management Institute and is a Certified Change Practitioner through Prosci.