• School of Education
• Centers, Institutes & Projects
• Center for Gifted Education
• Conferences & Professional Development
• Conferences
• Twice Exceptional Conference
• Presenters

2025 Featured Speakers

Dr. Susan Baum

Susan Baum, Ph.D., is the the Chancellor of the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education and Co-Director of the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development at Bridges Academy, a school for twice exceptional.

She is the 2010 recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award granted by the Weinfeld Group, for her contributions to the field of the education of twice exceptional learners, 2011 recipient of the Connecticut Association for the Gifted “Friend of the Gifted Award: and the 2015 Distinguish Professional Alumni Award from the Neag School of Education for her work with twice exceptional students and the Lifetime Achievement Award from AEGUS and the 2e Newsletter in 2017. In addition the  seminal book now in its third edition, To be gifted and learning disabled: Strength-based strategies for helping twice exceptional students with LD, ADHD, ASD, and more (Baum, Schader, & Owen) was awarded the won the book of the year NAGC Book of the Year award in 1918.

Professor Emeritus from The College of New Rochelle, Dr. Baum is widely published in the areas of differentiated instruction, twice exceptional students, primary-aged gifted students, and social and emotional factors affecting gifted students. A popular speaker and workshop presenter, she as traveled worldwide teaching about creativity, education of the gifted and talented and twice exceptionality.

Dr. Baum has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Students, Smart Kids with 2e, and is the past president and founder of the Association for the Education of Gifted Underachieving Students (AEGUS).

Emily Kircher-Morris

Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, inspired by her own experiences as a twice-exceptional (2e) learner, is dedicated to supporting 2e children—including her own—in a way she wasn’t during her academic years. She has taught in gifted classrooms, has been a school counselor, and is now in private practice as a licensed professional counselor, where she specializes in helping gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent kids.

Emily is the author of several books related to the development of twice-exceptional learners. "Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom" (Free Spirit Publishing, 2021) focuses on supporting 2e learners in the educational setting, and "Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids" (Routledge, 2022) is a guide for parents navigating the world of twice-exceptionality. She is also a co-author on the second edition of “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children” (Gifted Unlimited, LLC, 2023).

Emily hosts The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores parenting, counseling techniques, and best practices for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. She is the founder of the St. Louis-based nonprofit Gifted Support Network. She speaks at statewide, national, and international conferences and frequently provides virtual and in-person professional development to educators worldwide. Many of her presentations and workshops can also be found at the Neurodiversity University online learning platform. Emily lives near St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Julia Link Roberts

Julia Link Roberts is the Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University. She is also the Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies and The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. During the celebration of Western Kentucky University's Centennial in 2006, Dr. Roberts was honored for her work by being named one of the one hundred gifts WKU has given to the world. 

She is co-author with Tracy Inman of Strategies for Differentiating Instruction: Best Practices for the Classroom (2009 Legacy Award for the outstanding book for educators in gifted education by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented) and Assessing Differentiated Student Products: A Protocol for Development and Evaluation. Dr. Roberts is known as an advocate for children who are gifted and talented at the state and national levels, and for that work she received the first David W. Belin NAGC Award for Advocacy. She led a ten-year advocacy campaign that resulted in establishing the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, a statewide residential school. 

In Profiles of Influence in Gifted Education (Prufrock, 2004), Dr. Roberts was described as one of the fifty-five most influential people in the field of gifted education. Dr. Roberts is a leader in gifted education serving on the boards of the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education and The Association for the Gifted (a division of the Council for Exceptional Children); and she is past President of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children. She is chairperson of The Kentucky Advisory Counsel for Gifted Education. Dr. Roberts enjoys the opportunity to direct summer and Saturday programs for hundreds of young people, something she has done each year for more than thirty years. Dr. Roberts is married to Dr. Richard Roberts. They have two daughters, Stacy Moots and Julie Boggess; and they enjoy four granddaughters – Elizabeth, Caroline, Jane Ann, and Claire.

Julie Skolnick

Julie F. Rosenbaum Skolnick, M.A., J.D., the founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC, passionately guides parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, trains educators and advises professionals on how to bring out the best and raise self-confidence in their 2e students and clients.

A prolific writer and beloved speaker, Julie hosts “The Haystack 2e Adult Membership Group” which welcomes all “2e adult needles,” hosts Let’s Talk 2e! Parent Empowerment Groups, produces virtual conferences, and publishes “Gifted & Distractible,” a free weekly newsletter. Her book, Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child, was published in October 2023. Located in Maryland, USA, Julie’s clients and audience hale from all four corners of the globe.

2025 Breakout Session Speakers

Dr. Ashleigh D'Aunoy

John Burrell, MAT

John Burrell is a third-year doctoral student at the Renzulli Center for Creativity, Giftedness, and Talent Development at the University of Connecticut. He currently serves as a research assistant on Project EAGLE, a project developing a dynamic approach to equitably identify gifted English Learners (ELs). John’s research interests include executive functions and study skills, mathematical education, self and identity, and conceptions of giftedness and talent development. In line with his belief that research and teaching are mutually reinforcing endeavors, John serves on the faculty of the Andover Summer Program at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. John has nine years of experience teaching middle school and high math, science, and study skills.

Megan Cannella

Megan Cannella is the Director of Outreach at the Davidson Institute (davidsongifted.org), where she has worked since 2019. Before that, she taught college-level humanities courses for almost a decade. Megan's outreach role allows her to continue to grow the work she is most passionate about and dedicated to: connecting students and families with the services and supports they need to reach their goals. Her work focuses on advocacy and equity in gifted education.

Dr. Patricia Cummings

Dr. Patricia Cummings is a Gifted Compliance Diagnostician and staff developer in Florida. With years of experience in Gifted Education, Patricia has a passion for advocacy and educating stakeholders on the unique needs of high ability learners. Patricia has an Ed.D. from the University of Central Florida and was a nominee for both the National Association for Gifted Children’s Doctoral Student award as well as the Carnegie Project in Education’s Dissertation award.

 

Marcy Dann, Ed.D.

Marcy Dann, Ed.D., specializes in consulting with parents of twice exceptional (2e) students and creating strength-based, talent-focused learning profiles. She has consulted at Bridges Academy since 2003 and has been in clinical practice as a board certified educational therapist over 39 years. Dr. Dann is also a part-time instructor in higher education and holds workshops for school in-service trainings, regional, and international conferences.

Dr. Austina De Bonte

Dr. Austina De Bonte (she/her) is a consultant, speaker, coach, researcher and advocate for gifted and twice exceptional students with Smart is not Easy. She is also President of the WA Coalition for Gifted Education, Past President of NW Gifted Child Association, member of the WA State Highly Capable Advisory, and member of the NAGC Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. She works with school district teams to develop and fine-tune their program models, especially concerning equitable identification and service strategies. Her signature style combines synthesized research, current district practices, and cutting-edge neuroscience alongside her experience as a parent and family consultant. She has particular passion for supporting gifted and twice-exceptional students in public schools and helping families get to the root causes of 2e challenges, looking beyond the usual suspects. She received the NAGC Carolyn Callahan Doctoral Student Award (2023), People to Watch by Variations 2e Magazine (2020), WAETAG Advocacy Award (2019), has won three PTA Outstanding Advocate awards, and is a trained SENG facilitator. She has a Masters degree from MIT (1998) and a Doctoral degree in twice exceptional education from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education (2024).

Cynthia Allen-Fuss. M.Ed.

Cynthia Allen-Fuss, M.Ed., is a doctoral student at the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. Cynthia is the Associate Clinical Director at Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. As Associate Clinical Director, she works with children and trains adults to work with children who have dyslexia. Many of the children are identified as twice-exceptional (2e). As a parent of a 2e, Cynthia has first-hand knowledge of bright children and how to tap into their hidden strengths. Cynthia has a master’s degree in special education from Millersville University. Her Bachelor’s degree in Individual and Family Studies with an emphasis on child development is from Pennsylvania State University. Cynthia has taught graduate-level courses as a lecturer for Cabrini University. As a National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT) in literacy with additional teaching certifications in elementary education and as a reading specialist, she has over 25 years of teaching experience. Through clinical research, Cynthia is working to advance the scientific knowledge of dyslexia and 2e children.

Andrea Brucella Finnegan, M.S.Ed.

Andrea Brucella Finnegan is doctoral candidate in the field of cognitive diversity at Bridges Graduate School. Her research focuses on the wellbeing of neurodiverse children, particularly 2e autistic adolescents. She is a U.S. national and international presenter of neurodiversity topics in the field of positive psychology, mental health, and education. Andrea resides in Connecticut and is a mom to three wonderful children who inspire her field of work each day.

Maggie Eubanks, M.Ed.

Maggie Eubanks is a 20+ year educator and administrator in the public, international, and independent school communities in Texas, China, Indonesia, and now  Miami, Florida. She has an MEd in Ed Leadership, an MLS in Library Science, Board Certified in Special Education, and recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Twice-Exceptional Education from Bridges Graduate School for Cognitive Diversity in Education, where she is a proud member of the 5th cohort seeking their Doctorate in Education. This informs her work as Head of Schools and Co-Owner of Palmetto Bay Academy Schools, which are non-traditional schools in Miami, FL, supporting exceptional learners with a specialization in 2e learners. This past year saw the addition of Toucanet Academy for Passionate Pursuits or TAPP, a K-6th niche primary program for 2e learners, to their flagship secondary program at Palmetto Bay Academy. Maggie is passionate about research, but the heart of her focus is gathering together the best teams of educators to develop adaptive, responsive learning pathways for families who want to get the best of a personalized experience without sacrificing the warmth and joy of a caring school community. Curriculum design and learning frameworks that can go directly into the hands of every type of educator are where she focuses her problems of practice, seeing these as her most direct means to create effective and empowering change at the student level.

Austin J. Foglesong, MLIS, M.Ed.

Austin J. Foglesong, MLIS, M.Ed., is the Supervising Librarian II at the Moses Lake Public Library (NCW Libraries) in Moses Lake, Washington. Austin is a former high school English teacher and enrichment specialist from Quincy, Washington. He is pursuing his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Cognitive Diversity from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. In 2022, he received his Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from the University of Washington. In 2018, he received his Master of Education in Teaching and Learning (M.Ed.) and a gifted education specialty endorsement from Whitworth University. He is a positive role model of lifelong learning with a passion for reading and writing. His specialties include gifted education, library and information science, and twice-exceptional (2e) education. Austin serves on the Northwest Gifted Child Association (NWGCA) board, a support and advocacy organization for parents of gifted children. He also serves on the Washington Library Association (WLA) Advocacy Committee and the Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted (WAETAG) Partnership Committee.

Sarah Ghandil

My name is Sarah Ghandil and I am currently a Gifted Education Specialist and Adult Education Instructor with Suffolk Public Schools. Prior to this role, I taught seventh grade English and Social Studies, gaining valuable experience in fostering student engagement and academic growth. As a doctoral candidate at the College of William and Mary, my focus is on advancing educational research in the area of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. I am deeply committed to empowering students for long term success, supporting all learners in reaching their fullest potential, and collaborating with educators and stakeholders to address the diverse needs of all children.

Corey J. Gray

Corey Gray is a dedicated educator and researcher pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Gifted and Creative Education at the University of Georgia. A graduate of Georgia State University, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education. With extensive experience in diverse educational roles, Corey has excelled as an elementary and middle school teacher, mentor teacher, department head, special education teacher, and adjunct instructor. He actively contributes to the field of gifted education as an author and servant leader, serving as Communication Chair for the Creativity Network and Program Chair for the Special Populations Network within the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). Corey’s research includes creativity-based education, teacher perceptions of giftedness and creativity, and culturally responsive and sustaining teaching practices.

Dr. Claire Hughes

Dr. Claire Hughes is Professor of Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Education at Cleveland State University. Previously, she was Professor of Elementary and Special Education at the College of Coastal Georgia, Senior Lecturer of Special Education at Canterbury Christ Church in the UK, and a Fulbright Scholar to Greece. Winner of the Gifted & Award from NAGC in 2022, she is President-Elect of The Association for the Gifted of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC-TAG) and previously, Chair of the Special Populations Network of the National Association for Gifted Children. Her research areas include: twice-exceptional children, Generational studies, AI in Education, and international education.

Sarah Jackson 

Sarah Finch Jackson is currently serving as the 2e Instructional Specialist in Accelerated and Enriched Instruction with Montgomery County Public Schools (MD). She has previously taught self-contained and inclusive honors English and Reading and AP Language classes to students in grades 6-12. Sarah has a master's in special education, including Gifted and Talented Education Specialist certification from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to being twice-exceptional herself, Sarah is the mom to a precocious seven-year-old daughter and lives with her 2e husband and many, many cats.

Lisa Jobe, J.D.

Lisa Jobe, JD, specializes in serving highly and profoundly gifted/2e learners on their individualized learning pathways.  She pivoted from corporate law to homeschool her profoundly gifted sons, serving in the gifted/2e community and becoming a nationally recognized advocate in raising awareness for the unique needs of profoundly gifted learners.

Lisa is the co-founder of Sequoia Gifted and Creative, LLC, serving gifted/2e learners and their families across the U.S. and internationally with school advocacy, homeschooling, and parent support.  Lisa’s legal expertise, experience, and passion for gifted youth make her a powerful school advocate for families; likewise, she is a leading expert in gifted homeschooling and strengths-based interest-focused talent development with her extensive knowledge of resources, pathways, and early college opportunities.

In addition to her practice, Lisa volunteers significant time to the gifted/2e community. She serves on the Board of Directors at the Gifted Homeschoolers’ Forum (GHF) as the Director of the International Gifted/2e Virtual Co-Op, which she designed and leads.  Passionate about providing gifted/2e parent support, she leads the Davidson Young Scholars’ Homeschool Parent Support Group, facilitates SENG Parent Groups, and serves in various roles with NAGC. As a second year doctoral student at Bridges Graduate School, she is involved in significant research on behalf of gifted/2e learners.  In addition, Lisa volunteers significant time speaking at conferences and other events. A prolific writer, she is frequently published.

Marni Kammersell, M.A.

Marni Kammersell, M.A., is a neurodivergent educational consultant, doctoral student, and parent to three neurodivergent children. With over a decade of experience in alternative education, Marni specializes in supporting gifted and neurodivergent learners through the lens of the neurodiversity paradigm. Her work focuses on integrating research-based, neuroaffirming practices into educational settings to empower students, educators, and families alike. Marni is passionate about fostering environments that celebrate strengths, honor individuality, and meet the unique social-emotional and academic needs of 2e learners. She combines lived experience with deep professional expertise to challenge deficit-based models and promote equity and inclusion in gifted education. Currently pursuing a doctorate in education, Marni’s research explores how self-directed learning and strength-based approaches impact transitions to adulthood for neurodivergent youth. She has presented at national and international conferences, including the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and the Dabrowski Congress, on topics such as PDA, monotropism, and rethinking giftedness through a neurodivergent lens.

Dr. Abby Kirigin is the Executive Director of REEL, a nonprofit organization that supports the educational needs of twice-exceptional students in the California Bay Area. Abby is a lifelong learner and passionate advocate of education for all. She brings her many years of experience as an interaction designer with technology startups and parent of three children to her work. In June 2024 she received her doctorate from the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, where she developed a curriculum to support neurodivergent middle schoolers in strengths-based career exploration. Abby holds a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon and a B.A. from NYU in Computer Science & Philosophy. She has served as a writer, guest speaker, and presenter for many organizations including the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, Parents Place, KnowledgeWorks, California Association for the Gifted, and the National Association for Gifted Children.

Brad Kelly

Heather Lai

Heather Lai has been an educator for over 20 years and has taught in a variety of settings. Her interests are in the following areas: outdoor education, learning through inquiry with an integrative approach, spatial reasoning through board games, collaborative Design Thinking, and Executive Function skill development. Over the years, she had many partnerships with different interest groups where she shared and presented to a diverse audience. Currently, she is a middle school teacher and her practice focuses on the education of the gifted. She values an inside out approach to teaching where students share their learning and voice.

Myanne De Leon

Myanne De Leon is a dedicated Twice Exceptional (2e) Resource Teacher with over 21 years of experience in education, currently serving within Prince George's County Public Schools. Myanne has a passion for working with students who are both intellectually gifted and face one or more learning disabilities, supporting their unique needs while celebrating their successes and milestones. She takes pride in collaborating with fellow educators to enhance strategies for supporting 2e students, fostering an inclusive and empowering learning environment. Outside of her professional role, Myanne enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband and 17-year-old son. She finds joy in reading, singing, and taking long walks, which provide her with moments of relaxation and reflection. Myanne’s commitment to education and her students is matched only by her love for her family and personal interests, making her a well-rounded and compassionate individual.

Dr. Lou Lloyd-Zannini

Lou Lloyd-Zannini is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Department Chair at University of Houston-Victoria. A doctoral graduate of William & Mary and the Center, Lou works to influence aspiring principals and superintendents on behalf of gifted and 2e kids. Twice-exceptional himself, Lou serves as an advocate for twice-exceptional learners, and as a mentor to 2e learners at the University.

 Jared James May, MA

Dr. Krystle Merry

Dr. Krystle Merry is a clinical faculty member at the University of Maine in the School of Teaching and Learning Special Education Program. Krystle is a digital accessibility specialist with a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas, MS. Ed. in Gifted and Talented Education, BS. Ed in Middle Childhood Education, and Graduate Certificates in ESOL, Autism, Transition Programming, and User Research/User Interface (UX/UI) Design with an emphasis on educational and accessible design. Krystle recently published a book chapter in Strategies and Considerations for Educating the Academically Gifted on Supporting 2e Students Through Transition Programming: Preparing for Life After High School and an article in Gifted Child Today on Engaging Advanced Learners with Differentiated Online Learning. Krystle's current work in 2e focuses on transition programming in online or virtual schools, CTE integrations, remote work-based learning opportunities, and technology integration.

Kelley Monterusso, Ed.D.

Shanna Saslow Engel, M.Ed

S. Ley-Anne Folks is a Canadian educator specializing in twice-exceptional (2e) learners. Her

interdisciplinary M.Ed. investigated supporting gifted students with co-occurring ADHD. This led to exploring the combined impact of executive function (EF) delays giftedness on different conditions (ADHD, LDs, ASD, anxiety) that impair learning in a classroom setting. As a Learning Strategist for 2e learners in grades 5-8, she helps teachers expand their toolkits for working with 2e students in the classroom, creates innovative learning plans, and provides one-on-one instruction to support and help 2e students develop their academic and EF skills. Ley-Anne is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Cognitive Diversity at Bridges Graduate School.

Dr. Cynthia Z. Hansen, ET/P

Cynthia Z. Hansen, Ed.D., ET/P, is an Educational Therapist and Twice-Exceptional Education Consultant facilitating the growth of gifted and creative individuals with complex learning profiles, which may include executive function delays, ADHD, and dyslexia. Dr. Hansen uses a holistic approach to weave a vibrant relationship between individuals' intersectionality of strengths, obstacles, and passions to help them thrive. A California credentialed teacher for over 35 years, "Dr. Cindy" has been a Learning Center Director, a GATE Specialist, and has taught Theatre Arts in public and private schools. As an advocate for Gifted and 2e learners, Dr. Hansen develops and leads interactive parent and professional development workshops and conference presentations, is President of Tri-County GATE Council in Southern CA, is co-founder and facilitator of the Association of Educational Therapists 2e Virtual Study Group, and is a SENG Community Group facilitator. Dr. Cindy earned her doctorate from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education (BGS), and holds post-masters California Certificates in Gifted Education and Twice-Exceptional Education. Dr. Hansen directs the 2e Summer Institute, Suite of Tools Training, & Study with the Masters programs at BGS.

Allison Hellman

Sydney Miller Milbert, M.S.

Sydney Miller Milbert, M.S. is a creative and innovative educator who is passionate about serving gifted learners. Sydney has taught elementary and middle school students for over 8 years through in-person and online classes, with a special interest in art, history, literature and STEAM.

Sydney develops and teaches multimodal and multidisciplinary classes with an emphasis on strength- and interest-driven learning with Athena’s Advanced Academy. She is also an instructor with Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, where she focuses her teaching on gifted and talented students from underserved communities. 

While homeschooling her own gifted children, Sydney completed a graduate program and earned a Master of Science in Gifted Special Education. In addition, she holds undergraduate degrees in marketing and design. Sydney has also earned certificates in the Science of Motivation, Affective Needs and Motivation for 2e Students, and Executive Functioning for Twice-Exceptional Students. 

Sydney serves as a volunteer parent mentor with the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum and on the all-volunteer Board of Directors of The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers. She is also a member of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG). Sydney has written extensively about education, including articles for the National Association for Gifted Children’s Conceptual Foundations Newsletter, Gifted Homeschoolers Forum’s Journey, and SEA Homeschoolers Magazine, and she is a regular contributor to publications from The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers.

Dr. Suzanne Pickett Martinson

Suzanne Pickett Martinson, Ph.D, M.Ed, MMC, is an Arizona-based educator and communications professional. Active in the gifted education arena for more than two decades, Suzanne’s research intersts include gifted learners, online learning, motivation, and the teacher-student/student-student  connection. In addition to working with graduate and undergraduate university students, Suzanne is a certified 6-12 middle/high school teacher with an emphasis in psychology, journalism, communication, and English.

Megan Parker Peters, PhD

Dr. Megan Parker Peters is the Associate Dean, Professor, and the Director of Accreditation and Research of the College of Education at Lipscomb University. She is a licensed psychologist and licensed school psychologist who has earned the designation as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Dr. Parker Peters specializes in researching and assessing gifted and twice-exceptional learners. She is the co-recipient of the 2016 Hollingworth award for excellence in research publications in gifted education and the 2017 recipient of the Jo Patterson Award for her contribution to gifted education in the state of Tennessee. She is the co-author of Teaching Tenacity, Resilience, and a Drive for Excellence, which was awarded the 2019 TAGT Legacy award. She is also the past-president of the Tennessee Association for Independent Liberal Arts Colleges of Teacher Education and the Tennessee Association for the Gifted. Dr. Parker Peters has published articles related to the social emotional needs of gifted learners. She also serves on the board of the Tennessee Association for the Gifted and has served the editorial boards of the National Association for Gifted Children’s publications, Teaching for High Potential and Parenting for High Potential.

Debra Perhach

Debbie Perhach is an Autism Resource Teacher in Prince George's County Public Schools. She has over 30 years of dedication to special education and has a passion for working with twice exceptional students. She taught academic resource courses at both the middle and high school level for many years. Debbie is committed to fostering a positive learning environment and helping students discover their strengths. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys reading, walking, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Jade Rivera

Diane Robbins-Holland, M.Ed.

Israel Sauceda is twice-exceptional senior in high school who carries a 4.0 GPA in his dual-credit coursework at the University of Houston-Victoria. He is also a national champion in basketball and an undefeated district champion in football. While pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, Israel hopes that he can make use of his personal experience as a 2e learner to help other people in the same boat to succeed.

Sheyanne S. Smith

Sheyanne S. Smith is the High Ability Learning Director for the Nebraska Department of Education. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English and Master's of Arts in Teaching at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. She also holds a Master's of Education in Gifted, Talented, and Creative Education from University of Arkansas Little Rock. Prior to coming to her current position, she taught middle school gifted ELA in Tennessee. Sheyanne has presented locally, nationally, and internationally about her work with high ability students. Sheyanne is a member of the National Association for Gifted Children, treasurer for the Council for State Directors of Programs for the Gifted, and secretary of Council for Exceptional Children - The Association for the Gifted. She was awarded the National Association for Gifted Children Master's and Specialist Award in 2023. Sheyanne is currently a doctoral student at William & Mary.

Erin Tee, M.Ed.

Erin Tee is the owner and creative producer of the newly reimagined Endless Films Collective, a multidisciplinary hub for media and education. Combining her 20 years of experience in media production with her expertise in neurodiversity, Erin has transformed the Collective into a space where impactful visual media and neurodiversity-affirming education intersect. The Endless Films Collective creates innovative, inclusive, and meaningful content, specializing in visual communication and educational solutions for diverse clients. Erin is an advocate, educator, and parent who champions neurodiversity in education and beyond. Armed with an M.Ed. in Cognitive Diversity and a Certificate in Twice-Exceptional Education, Erin blends academic expertise with her lived experience as a neurodivergent parent of a twice-exceptional child. She has presented internationally on inclusive design, student-led talent development, and neurodiversity-affirming parenting. Through Endless Films Collective, Erin provides a platform for storytelling and learning that centres neurodivergent voices. She supports families, educators, and businesses with resources, webinars, presentations and courses that inspire understanding and advocacy.

Chandi Turner

Chandi Turner is an elementary teacher currently teaching second grade at Central Park Elementary with Roseville Area Schools in Roseville, Minnesota, where she has been teaching for fourteen years. Throughout her time there she has taught all grades kindergarten through third grade as well as reading and math intervention. She has a Master’s in Education from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota where she took a class on Cognitively Guided Instruction in math 11 years ago and fell in love with the approach and its use in the classroom. She has been developing her knowledge of and skill with this approach through research and work in the classroom ever since that experience. Chandi is a later in life diagnosed twice exceptional student herself, so she can relate with the unique challenges and superpowers different forms of neurodivergence can have for those living in a world not designed to accommodate differences in brains and thinking. Neurodivergence in all of its forms has become a research passion for her both to help her better understand her own neurotypes and to help her better serve her neurodivergent students.

Shantanu Tilak, PhD

Shantanu Tilak is the Director of the Center for Educational Research and Technological Innovation at Chesapeake Bay Academy. He completed his PhD in Educational Psychology at The Ohio State University, with his work focusing on how to synergize informal Internet-influenced learning and formal learning in classroom environments to allow students at varied ages (from elementary schoolers to lifelong learners) to acquire the skills for critical Internet navigation. Currently, he is developing a virtual reality assisted online program for neurodivergent middle schoolers, that will be studied using an action research framework.

Dr. Debbie Troxclair

Dr. Debbie Troxclair, Associate Professor at Lamar University, teaches graduate courses in gifted and special education. She has been actively involved in state and national gifted education professional organizations since 1987. She is the current President of the Association for Gifted and Talented in Louisiana. She received the CEC-TAG 2024 Service Award. Prior to working in higher education, Dr. Troxclair taught K-12 general and gifted education for almost 20 years. She has publications in gifted education journals/books and regularly presents conference sessions at state/national/international gifted education conferences. Her research interests include twice-exceptional learners, attitudes toward gifted, social emotional issues of the gifted, and personality type. Debbie's hobbies include quilting, and she loves to create pastel and watercolor art.

Dr. Eleonoor van Gerven 

Dr. Eleonoor van Gerven is director of Slim! Educatief BV, a private teacher education institute in The Netherlands. She specialized in gifted education and the systemic change- and solution-focussed approach. She developed a competency matrix for specialists in gifted education. She developed the post-graduate courses Specialist in Gifted Education and the Specialist in Educating Twice Exceptional Learners, which are both accredited by the Dutch Society for Higher Education. She wrote 17 books on gifted education and almost 100 articles on these topics. In September 2023 her next book on using the systemic support program for educating twice-exceptional learners in the regular classroom will be published.

In 2014 She won the Dutch Mensa Award for her lifelong contribution to gifted education. In 2018 she was made an honorary member of the Dutch Professional Association of Specialists in Gifted education. Eleonoor is secretary of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, chair of the World Council’s scientific committee and chair of the Educational Insights Group.

Marna Walthall Wohlfeld, MA, MBA

Marna Walthall Wohlfeld, MA, MBA, is a mom of four and lives in Bloomington, IN. Passionate about advocating for 2e students, she is studying in the doctoral program at Bridges Graduate School. She has completed Training Levels 1 and 2 with PDA North America. She is a trained SENG facilitator, the Managing Editor of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum Journey newsletter, and Vice President of the GHF Board. Previously Marna worked in the nonprofit sector and in journalism.

Vanessa R. Wood

Vanessa R. Wood, MA, Gifted Education, Co-Founder and President, The International Gifted  Consortium (IGC), Research Center for Highly-Profoundly Gifted is the co-principal investigator and corresponding author of the 2024 published study, Prevalence of Emotional, Intellectual, Imaginational, Psychomotor, Sensual Overexcitabilities in Highly and Profoundly Gifted Children and Adolescents: A mixed-methods study of development and developmental potential. She is also the corresponding author of the 2020 publication, How Can We Better Understand, Identify, and Support Highly Gifted and Profoundly Gifted Students? A Literature Review of the Psychological Development of Highly-Profoundly Gifted Individuals and Overexcitabilities and the co-editor of the upcoming book Highly-Profoundly Gifted: A Holistic and Critical Approach. Vanessa created programs to fit the educational and developmental needs of highly-profoundly gifted children and adolescents; she is the host of the IGC podcast, Room with a View, and she trains parents, teachers, school administrators, counselors, and psychologists on the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and altruistic behaviors, development, and developmental potential of highly-profoundly gifted children, adolescents, and young adults.

Dr. Matt Zakreski

Matthew “Dr. Matt” Zakreski, PsyD is a high energy, creative clinical psychologist who utilizes an eclectic approach to meet the specific needs of his neurodivergent clients.  He is proud to serve the Gifted community as a consultant, a professor, an author, and a researcher.  He has spoken over 300 times all over the world about supporting neurodivergent kids.  Dr. Zakreski is a member of Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC), and Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE).  Dr. Zakreski graduated from Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (IGCP) in 2016.  He is the co-founder of The Neurodiversity Collective.