HireACane Academy Campus Recruiter Conference
*Please note this event is a conference for recruiters and NOT a career fair. You will have the opportunity to connect with various UM students who will share their insights into the recruiting process.*
Join the Toppel Career Center for the HireACane Academy Campus Recruiter Conference on
May 1 & 2, 2025, hosted on our beautiful Coral Gables campus. This year's conference is an opportunity to reconnect with the purpose behind your work by focusing on the student experience and the impact of your recruitment efforts. Join us for this unique opportunity to hear directly from students, collaborate with peers, and gain actionable strategies to elevate your campus recruitment efforts.
AGENDA
Day 1 – May 1, 2025
Breakfast: 9:00 – 9:30 am
Welcome & Introductions: 9:30 – 10:00 am
Keynote Speech: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Dr. Kathi Kern, Senior Vice Provost for Education, University of Miami
Break: 11:00 – 11:15 am
Leveraging AI in Recruiting 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Jennifer Kaplan, Head of Campus Recruiting at Schonfeld
Douglas Neese, Associate Director, Employer Engagement, Toppel Career Center
Share proven methods to streamline hiring processes and improve candidate selection to attract top talent.
Lunch & Network: 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Enjoy lunch and network with UM staff!
(Optional) Campus Tour: 12:45 – 1:10 pm
Session on Student Mental Health: 1:15 – 2:00 pm
Rene Monteagudo, Director, UM Counseling Center
Discover a holistic approach for supporting students through the application, hiring, and onboarding process.
Career Readiness in the Recruiting Process: 2:00 – 2:45 pm
Carly Smith, Director, Career Education, Toppel Career Center
Learn how the Toppel Career Center prepares students for career success and explore current trends shaping the future of campus recruitment.
Break: 2:45 – 3:00 pm
Student & Faculty Roundtable: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Gain direct insights from students and faculty on what makes the U unique and recruitment best practices.
Moderator: Ali Rodriguez, Executive Director, Toppel Career Center
Faculty:
- Sarai Nunez, Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Miami School of Communication
- Leslie Knecht, Distinguished Senior Lecturer, College of Arts and Sciences, and Residential Faculty
- Lokesh Ramamoorthi, Lecturer, College of Engineering, & Co-Director, Innovation, Technology and Design Program
Students:
- Laila Pettus, Junior, Broadcast Journalism and Advertising
- Natalie Gutierrez, Senior, Computer Science
- Obi Khair, Junior, Computer Science-Data Science
Reception: 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Wind down and network with fellow attendees and UM campus partners!
Day 2 - May 2, 2025
Breakfast: 9:00 – 9:30 am
Welcome & Opening Activity: 9:30 - 9:45 am
Fireside Chat: Branding Strategies 9:45 - 10:45 am
Students will share tips for how to elevate your presence as an employer on campus and on social media.
Moderator: Sophia Kyriazis, Senior, Public Relations, and Social Media Intern, Toppel Career Center
Panelists:
- Colette Belzer, Junior, Communication Public Relations, and Motion Pictures Studio
- Hanna DeSimone, Senior, Marketing
- Makena Wong, Freshman, Creative Advertising
Break: 10:45 – 11:00 am
Build Your Talent Engagement Pipeline: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Doug Lehmann, PhD, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Miami Herbert Business School
Put your insights into action! In this interactive session, you'll apply key takeaways from the conference to design a strategic plan tailored to your recruitment goals.
Lunch & Learn (Sponsored by Miami Herbert Business School): 12:00 - 1:30 pm
Explore how experiential learning opportunities can enhance engagement with graduate business students.
Wrap-up and Closing Remarks: 1:30 pm
Pricing per participant:
Corporate: $299
Government/Non-Profit: $249
Employer Testimonials
“Fantastic experience overall, and I definitely will be returning next year. I think this is an amazing program!” – Aly Picascio, RED Hospitality
“Amazing workshops and a great way to network with fellow recruiters.”
– Jamie Kibler, Modjeski & Masters, Inc.
“Thank you for consistently putting on an amazing event. The attention to detail does not go unnoticed, and I always leave with new, helpful insights.”
– Erika Schmidt, RBI
“I love it when students are incorporated into the discussion.”
– Sarah Erb, Elder Affairs
“[HireACane Academy] was informative, engaging, and fun! We received some very valuable insights into the unique challenges involved in recruiting young talent in today’s job market.”
– Kyle Smith, City Wide Facility Solutions
