About LeighAnn (she/her)
LeighAnn is an innovative learning consultant and educator developer. She has written book chapters, presented internationally and continues to be (re)invited to institutions across the Northeast. LeighAnn has conducted hundreds of consultations, developed and implemented nearly 100 workshops, facilitated two dozen semester to academic year-long programs, and has worked with local libraries and non-profits to help educate their participants.
Her current research foci are Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Flipped Classroom Approach.
"My love for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) has helped me to stay informed about the latest research on student engagement, assessment and success more broadly. I also have a great deal of expertise in assessments, technology-enhanced education, design perspectives, skill development, and community and connection building."
Experience grounded in evidence-based practices, innovation & equity
LeighAnn Tomaswick, M.A. & M.S. is the Educational Innovation Learning Design Specialist at the Center for Teaching & Learning at Kent State University.
Her first graduate career was in Chemistry and while she will always value her STEM background, her zeal for learning craved more. As a graduate student, LeighAnn was first inspired to pursue her interests in teaching and learning when she attended a workshop by Charles Henderson who spoke about the challenges to implementing evidence-based teaching strategies. This prompted her to pursue a second graduate degree at Michigan State University in curriculum and instruction, where she further developed her skills in facilitating meaningful professional development experiences, such as conducting research in K-12 curriculum and instruction, facilitating a year-long Teaching as Research (TAR) program for graduate students, working with the National Science Foundation funded Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) and supporting curriculum development at the College of Human Medicine through the Center for Ethics. These experiences led to her success in landing her dream job at Kent State in 2016. Her doctorate will be in interprofessional leadership with a specialization in educational technology.
LeighAnn's greatest joy is that of being a mom. She has three amazing kiddos who are always keeping her on her toes and a smile on her face. LeighAnn will always say she is from Pittsburgh though she hasn't lived there in 15 + years!? If you know, you know :) She is beyond grateful and loving new adventures as her parents recently moved to Ohio. We love exploring ice cream shops, the national park and when not running amok with her boys, she is often found building micro lego sets, grooming/playing with her dog or enjoying Zumba.