Shelagh A. Gallagher

President, NAGC Board of Directors

Engaged Education

Dr. Shelagh A. Gallagher is the President of NAGC and director of Engaged Education, where she works with educators worldwide to promote appropriate education for gifted children. Previously, she spent 12 years leading the gifted education program at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. While at UNC Charlotte, she led two federal education grants focused on the needs of CLED gifted adolescents and currently runs the Talent Unleashed advocacy initiative in North Carolina to raise awareness of the needs of CLED students. She has conducted research and published widely on topics including personality attributes and giftedness, developmental and academic needs of gifted adolescents, questioning strategies for gifted students, and twice-exceptional students. She is co-author of the IEA policy report America Agrees. Dr. Gallagher is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award and the James J. Gallagher Advocacy Award from the North Carolina Association for Gifted and Talented, the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence from UNC Charlotte, and the Article of the Year Award from Gifted Child Quarterly. Eight of Dr. Gallagher’s curriculum units have won the NAGC Curriculum Division Award for Outstanding Curriculum. She recently received the “Person of SIGnificance” award from the National Society for Gifted and Talented. Every summer, Dr. Gallagher makes time to work with gifted adolescents as a Fellow at Camp Yunasa. 

Contact Shelagh via email

Catherine Little

President-Elect, NAGC Board of Directors

University of Connecticut

Catherine Little, Ph.D. is a Professor in Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut. She received her MA and PhD in gifted education from William and Mary and worked in the Center for Gifted Education there prior to coming to UConn. Her research interests include professional learning, differentiation of curriculum and instruction for advanced learners, and classroom questioning practices. Catherine currently works as the Project Director for Project SPARK and Project LIFT, two Javits-funded initiatives focused on working with schools and teachers to recognize and respond to advanced academic potential in the early grades, particularly in students from underserved populations. She previously served on the NAGC Board of Directors as a Member-at-Large, as Treasurer, and as Governance Secretary.

Lauri Kirsch

Past President, NAGC Board of Directors

Hillsborough County School District (Retired)

Lauri Kirsch earned her doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. From 2005-2018 Lauri was the Gifted Program Coordinator/Supervisor for Hillsborough County (Florida), the nation’s seventh largest school district, where she created programs recognized nationally for equity and diversity. Her work as a coordinator is featured in Designing Gifted Education Programs and Services: From Purpose to Implementation (2017, Brulles & Peters). Dr. Kirsch serves the National Association for Gifted Children as Past President.

Speaker Topics: Operationalizing Response to Intervention (RtI) for Gifted Students, Empowering Gifted Identification Efforts, Leadership in Gifted Education, Creating Meaning in Online Professional Development, Parents and Teachers Partnering for Successful Outcomes, Raising Happy and Successful Gifted Kids

Nancy Hertzog

Treasurer, NAGC Board of Directors

University of Washington

Nancy B. Hertzog, Ph.D., is a Professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development at the University of Washington. Her research examines curricular practices and policies in the field of gifted education. From 1995 to 2010 she was on the faculty in the Department of Special Education and directed University Primary School at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Collaboratively with the head teachers, she won several curriculum awards from the Curriculum Division of the National Association for Gifted Children. She joined the University of Washington in 2010 as a professor in the area of Learning Sciences and Human Development, and the Director of the Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars (2010-2020). Currently her research focuses on equity and access to advanced learning opportunities in schools, and pedagogical strategies that help teachers challenge all students. She has been an active member of NAGC for over 40 years.

Michelle Frazier Trotman Scott

Governance Secretary, NAGC Board of Directors

University of West Georgia

Dr. Michelle (Shelli) Frazier Trotman Scott is the Director of Graduate Affairs and Professor at the University of West Georgia. She writes and presents on racial disproportionalities in gifted and special education, dual exceptionalities, culturally responsive teaching, and family involvement. She also serves and leads in professional organizations.

Affectionately known as “Dr. FTS”, Shelli earned her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis on special, gifted, and urban education, a Masters in Technology Education, and her B.S.Ed. Special Education, from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Frazier Trotman Scott has conducted professional development workshops for urban school districts and been invited to engage in community dialogues regarding educational practices and professional conferences, and co-edited six books. She is also on multiple editorial boards and serves as a reviewer for multiple peer-reviewed journals.

At-Large Member, NAGC Board of Directors

Michigan State University

Dante D. Dixson, Ph.D., LP received his Bachelor’s degree (Honors) in psychology, Master’s degree in education, and Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently an Assistant Professor of School and Educational Psychology at Michigan State University where he studies the role of hope in the educational and psychological functioning of children and adolescents, the psychosocial precursors of achievement, the underrepresentation of minoritized and disadvantaged youth in gifted education, and how psychosocial perceptions affect academic talent development. The author of over 50 scholarly articles, research presentations, and book chapters, Dr. Dixson currently serves on the editorial broads of Gifted Child Quarterly, the Journal for the Education of the Gifted, School Psychology Review, and the Journal of Black Psychology. In addition, Dr. Dixson is a board member for the Roeper Institute and the Michigan Association of Gifted Children.

Mark Hess

State Representative, NAGC Board of Directors

Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented

Mark Hess is President of the Colorado Association for Gifted Students and is the Gifted Programs Specialist in a large, urban school district in Colorado Springs. Mark has served on the CAGT board of directors for five years and was previously the president of the Pikes Peak Association for Gifted. He is also a member of the Teaching for High Potential advisory board as well as a committee member of NAGC’s Social-Emotional network. Mark has published nine books for gifted specialists including I Used to Be Gifted, his 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Gifted Social-Emotional Curriculums and the 4th, 5th, and 6th
grade Hands-on Literacy series. As Portable Gifted and Talented, Mark has shared over 41,000 free resources for teachers of gifted students. A lifelong K-12 Public School educator, Mark began working specifically with gifted learners in 1999 and began his teaching career in 1988.

Presidential Appointment, NAGC Board of Directors

As the 2015 CA Charter Teacher of the Year and 2010 Grammy Museum Museum Educator Award winner, Genein is a national thought leader and creator of the concept of ‘Intercultural Creativity®,  NeuroSomatic Creativity®’ and Prismatic Leadership®.  She is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of CAFFE Strategies, Inc which is a consulting, coaching and training company that trains corporations, educational leaders and educators to create sustainable creative and inclusive strategies, based on neuroscience, while unleashing their innovative thinking for themselves and in their businesses and classrooms.

Pulling from her twenty years of working with creative students, her unique curriculum utilizes neuroscience, metaphorical strategies, heightened observation techniques and the creative arts to reawaken intuitive thinking. She served as the GATE coordinator and educator for over ten years at her California elementary school. She recently published her third children’s book, My Brain, My Brain, My Beautiful Brain', and  I AM CREATIVE! with her 6-year-old son, Shawn Letford to show how creative thinking develops in the brain. Her latest book, The Future Classroom Of Intercultural Creativity®: Building Students Who Connect and Create Together has been labeled groundbreaking for education in the 21st century. Genein believes creative thinking paired with brain health and cultural competency are critical 21st Century skills. She is often called ‘America’s Creativity Coach’ for her work in reigniting Intercultural Creativity® and in our youth and in our workforce.

Connect with Genein on LinkedIn.

Jennifer Madsen

At-Large Member, NAGC Board of Directors

New Jersey Association for Gifted Children

Jennifer Madsen is Vice President-Advocacy Chair for the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC). Her work focuses on policy development and building relationships with legislators, government officials, and organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. Jen represents NJAGC as the state affiliate leader to NAGC and served on NAGC’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee from 2020-2023, chairing the Legislative Outreach Subcommittee. Jen works closely with the NJ Department of Education as a Co-Chair of the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Council and was instrumental in inspiring, drafting, and ensuring the passage of a new law in 2020. Shortly after, she was honored with a
Joint Legislative Resolution from the NJ State Legislature for her work and dedication to gifted and talented education. Jennifer was the 2021 NJAGC Parent of the Year and a member of the team that won the 2020 NAGC David W. Belin Advocacy Award.

D. Betsy McCoach

At-Large Director, NAGC Board of Directors

University of Connecticut, Department of Educational Psychology

I have spent the past 29 years passionately involved in the field of gifted education, first as a public-school teacher, and afterward as a researcher. My research experience in gifted education is extensive: I have served as a co-Principal Investigator for the National Center for Research on Gifted Education, co-editor of Gifted Child Quarterly (2012-2017) and founding co-editor of the Journal of Advanced Academics (2006-2011). I am the 2023 recipient of NAGC’s Distinguished Scholar award. I have served as chair and program chair for the Research and Evaluation Network and the SIG Chair for the Research on Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development SIG of AERA, and I served on the Massachusetts Gifted and Talented Advisory Council from 2019-2022. I have also served on both the Publications Committee and the Awards Committee of NAGC. I look forward to the opportunity to use my knowledge and research skills to collaborate with NAGC members and leaders to tackle some of the most pressing issues currently facing NAGC and the field of gifted education more broadly.

Kristie Speirs Neumeister

At-Large Member, NAGC Board of Directors

Ball State University

I am a professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State University and direct the Gifted and Talented Graduate Licensure Program. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Association for the Gifted in multiple capacities including President and Conference Chair (in which I gained experience in financial management of the affiliate), Governance Secretary, and Advocacy Co-Chair. I have been an active member of NAGC for over two decades, attending and presenting at nearly every NAGC convention since 1999. Additionally, I have served on the NAGC Awards, Program, and Elections Committees and the Administrative and Defining Giftedness Taskforces. Throughout my career, I have published over 50 journal articles, books, technical reports, chapters, and an interactive textbook on gifted education. I have given over 100 presentations at state, national, and international conferences in gifted education. My husband and I are also parents of four daughters identified as gifted learners.

Darryl L. Peterkin

Presidential Appointment

Darryl L. Peterkin, Ph.D., is Associate Dean for Student Success and Equity at the Macaulay Honors College at The City University of New York. Previously, he was Assistant Dean for Student Success in the James H. Gilliam, Jr. College of Liberal Arts at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to this, he directed the University Honors Program and the Clara I. Adams Honors College at Morgan from 2010- 2022. A proud Southerner, Dr. Peterkin has devoted much of his adult life to recreating his late grandmother’s biscuit recipe and the pursuit of Carolina-style barbecue. He is an enthusiastic fan of the Atlanta Braves, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and all things Star Trek.

Ashley Phelps

Parent Representative, NAGC Board of Directors

Florida Gifted Network

Dr. Ashley Phelps entered the field of gifted education in 2014 when she enrolled in endorsement courses under the guidance of former NAGC president, Dr. Lauri Kirsch. Inspired by the work of Lauri and her team, Ashley moved into a gifted teacher role at a Title-I school and joined the Hillsborough’s gifted leadership team, collaborating with other professionals on supporting gifted learners throughout the district. Ashley now serves gifted children and their families through her employment at a statewide virtual school district. Ashley completed her PhD in Education with a focus on Leadership, Policy, and Change including a dissertation on addressing underrepresentation in Florida’s gifted programs in 2023. Ashley is a board
member for the NAGC Affiliate, Florida Gifted Network. Her favorite role in this field is being the parent of a gifted child. Ashley is passionate about supporting gifted children and their families.

Karen Rambo-Hernandez

At-Large Member, NAGC Board of Directors

Texas A&M University

Dr. Karen E. Rambo-Hernandez is an associate professor at Texas A&M University in the College of Education and Human Development with appointments in the Department of Teaching Learning and Culture and the Department of Educational Psychology. Prior to her becoming an academic, she was a classroom teacher for ten years where she worked with mathematically talented students, which still provides much inspiration for her work. Her research interests include novel applications of multilevel modeling and growth modeling, the assessment of educational interventions to improve STEM education, and access for all students— particularly high achieving and underrepresented students— to high quality education. She has received grant funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education Javits Grants. Dr. Rambo-Hernandez was the District Teacher of the Year in Coppell, Texas, in 2006 and received the National Association of Gifted Children’s Early Scholar Award in 2019.  

Antonia Szymanski

Network Representative, NAGC Board of Directors

Kentucky University

As a parent and researcher in the field of gifted education for over 20 years, I have dedicated my professional career to understanding and promoting improved educational experiences for high-ability students. My passion for this field stems from my personal experience as a parent of a gifted child who struggled to find the right educational fit. Through my research, I have discovered that this struggle is not unique and that many gifted students, especially those who are underrepresented, face similar challenges. My research focuses on gifted learners and how teachers can recognize and nurture their potential. I believe that ALL students deserve access to a high-quality education that challenges and supports their unique abilities. My work in this area has allowed me to develop innovative strategies and interventions that can be used to identify and support gifted students from diverse backgrounds.

April Wells

School/District Representative, NAGC Board of Directors

Illinois School District U-46

April Wells is an educational consultant, conference presenter, and author. She is the Gifted Coordinator in Illinois School District U-46, where she facilitated the redesign of the District’s gifted program. April serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Association for Gifted Children. Her work has served as inspiration for other organizations highlighting universal screening, talent development and the use of local norms for gifted programming. She has presented extensively at conferences. She is a national consultant and professional development trainer whose message centers around the equity imperative. Her interests focus on equity pedagogy, underrepresented learners, developing gifted continuum of services and providing instructional supports that allow students to maximize their pursuits. She received one of the 2018 Gifted Coordinator Awards from the National Association for Gifted Children. Her first book, Achieving Equity in Gifted Programming: Dismantling Barriers and Tapping Potential was published in January 2020.

Dornswalo Wilkins-McCorey

At-Large Director, NAGC Board of Directors

Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Dr. Dornswalo Wilkins-McCorey (Dr. Dorn) is a coordinator in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the Office of Gifted Programs in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS). The programs and services she coordinates focus on underrepresented populations, technology, and evidence-based gifted professional learning opportunities.

In her 24 years as an educator, she has worked in various capacities in gifted education. Additionally, she was selected as a 2006 Mary T. Frasier Scholar, the 2020 National Gifted Coordinator of the Year for the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and the 2022 Virginia Association Gifted Leader of the Year.

Dr. Wilkins-McCorey serves as an officer in various organizations: the Virginia Association for the Gifted (VAGifted) President, VAGifted conference chair, Virginia Advisory Committee for the Education of the Gifted (VACEG) secretary and Project E-Ignite Board. Additionally, she is a Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted (SENG) Model Parent Gifted (SMPG) facilitator.