Executive Director

Dr. Shelagh A. Gallagher

Jody and Layton Smith Professor of Gifted Education and Talent Development

Dr. Shelagh A. Gallagher, an internationally recognized leader in gifted education, will join William & Mary in Fall 2025 as Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Education and the Jody and Layton Smith Professor of Gifted Education and Talent Development. She brings over 30 years of experience in curriculum innovation, policy leadership, and advocacy, with a career spanning higher education, nonprofit organizations, and K–12 initiatives. Gallagher is widely known for her groundbreaking work in problem-based learning and her commitment to equity in identifying and nurturing giftedness across diverse populations. Her leadership has earned numerous national awards and includes serving as President of the National Association for Gifted Children. At CFGE, she will oversee strategic initiatives in graduate instruction, precollegiate programming, curriculum development, research, and professional learning to expand the Center’s impact locally and globally. Welcome, Dr. Gallagher!