Should we use the term 'Gifted'?
Join Us Virtually
Event Details
Is it time to reconsider the term gifted? For decades, this label has shaped research, policy, and programming in gifted education, yet it remains one of the field’s most debated concepts. In this engaging session, leading scholars will examine whether the term continues to serve the field effectively or if new language is needed to better reflect talent development, equity, and emerging research. Participants will explore multiple perspectives on the strengths and limitations of the term and consider how language influences identification practices, services, and public understanding of advanced learners. Through live virtual Q&A, attendees will contribute to the discussion, evaluate the most persuasive arguments, and reflect on what terminology may best guide the future of gifted education.
For More Information:
Hernan Castillo-Hermosilla (MSEd, MPsy) is an active member of NAGC and Associate Editor of the Journal of Advanced Academics (JoAA). Hernan is also a member of the leadership teams at the Conceptual Foundations Network and the Rompiendo Barreras SIG, as well as the NAGC Awards Committee.
Joi Lin currently serves as Director of Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the University of Denver, as Director of Professional Education at the Gifted Development Center, as At-Large Member for Research on Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development at AERA, and as Chair of the Education and Gifted Youth Committee for the Mensa Foundation.
Jennifer Riedl Cross, Ph.D. is a research professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is the current Editor of Gifted Child Quarterly. She co-edited, with Tracy L. Cross, the Handbook for Counselors Serving Students with Gifts and Talents, now in its second edition. Her research in the field emphasizes social and psychological aspects of gifted education.
Frank C. Worrell, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on cultural identities, talent development, and time perspective. He is a Fellow of several associations and a member of the National Academy of Education and the Society for the Study of School Psychology. He was the 2022 President of the American Psychological Association.
Based in Ocala, Florida, Viviana Prieto is dedicated to advancing gifted education through advocacy and professional collaboration. She is an educator and advocate for students with 27 years of experience specializing in gifted education. She has served as a district program specialist, designing and teaching gifted education endorsement courses in Florida, while enjoying time with family and traveling. She also serves on the Florida Gifted Network board and holds leadership roles within NAGC, such as chair-elect for Gifted Coordinator Network.
Matthew C. Makel is Professor and Research Chair in High Abilities Studies in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. His research focuses on academic talent development and open science research methods. In talent development, he investigates the equitable allocation of gifted identification and services as well as how schools can better meet student learning needs.