So You Want to Be a NAGC Leader?

By Corey J. Gray, Ph.D. and Ty’Bresha Glass

Is this a question you’ve pondered? If so, keep reading!

The Diversity and Equity Committee will be hosting a signature session on Friday, November 14 from 1:15-2:15 PM during the 2025 NAGC Annual Convention designed to provide tools, insights, and strategies to amplify your voice and impact within our organization in a variety of ways. This session is for anyone that has desired or may desire to serve in NAGC in any capacity.

Attendees will first hear from a powerful lineup of current and past NAGC leaders, including Dr. Catherine Little, Dr. Michelle Frasier Trotman Scott, Dr. Fred Bonner, Dr. Erinn Fears-Floyd, Dr. Kristen Lamb, Hernan Castillo-Hermosilla, Jessica Gutierrez, and Brenda Matos, who will share their journeys, lessons learned, and encouragement for emerging voices in gifted education. Our experts will discuss pathways to leadership, navigating challenges, and finding your professional niche within NAGC. Their insights will offer a transparent look into the realities and rewards of serving the gifted education community at the national level.

Following the panel, participants will engage in interactive and open Leadership Labs, small-group roundtable discussions that make leadership development tangible and personal. Each lab is designed to address a specific area of growth:

• NAGC Networking – Making a Presence: This lab explores how to authentically connect, collaborate, and build a visible presence within the organization.
• Writing and Publishing – Turning Ideas into Print: Participants will learn strategies for transforming their professional insights into publishable work, from practitioner articles to peer-reviewed research.
• Member Engagement – Getting the Most Out of Your Membership: This discussion focuses on maximizing the NAGC experience through meaningful involvement and ongoing professional growth.
• Volunteer Engagement – Finding Opportunities to Volunteer: This lab highlights practical ways to balance service with professional and personal commitments while making a measurable impact.
• Career Transitions – Transitioning from Practitioner to Researcher: This conversation offers guidance for educators considering the shift to research or higher education roles.

Together, these experiences will help participants identify their leadership strengths, clarify next steps, and develop an actionable plan to engage more deeply within NAGC. Whether you’re taking your first step toward leadership or looking to expand your influence, this session will equip you to lead with purpose, authenticity, and community.

We look forward to seeing and serving you at the 2025 NAGC Annual Convention. Let’s lead, learn, and grow together!

About the Authors

Corey J. Gray, Ph.D. is an educator, researcher, and advocate for equity and creativity in gifted education. He currently serves as the co-chair of NAGC's Diversity and Equity Committee and focuses on culturally responsive practices that expand access to gifted programming for all students.

Ty’Bresha Glass is a Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University and emerging leader in gifted education with a passion for equity, leadership development, and amplifying underrepresented voices. She serves as co-chair of the NAGC Diversity and Equity Committee and co-chair of the Awards Committee for the Special Populations Network.