NAGC Welcomes New Board Members

President-elect

Catherine Little, Ph.D., Professor, University of Connecticut, Neag School of Education, Storrs, CT

NAGC has been a constant presence and influence on my professional path. I am excited about the prospect of giving back by serving as the President-Elect and then President of the NAGC Board of Directors. I have great respect for the commitment of our members and leaders and for the power of the NAGC community to support gifted and talented learners and those who work with them. NAGC is poised to continue to strengthen equitable opportunities for talent development, and I will contribute my energy and leadership to NAGC’s efforts to connect research to practice, cultivate inclusion, pursue advocacy efforts, and engage a wide range of stakeholders. My own experiences with research, teaching, and outreach, combined with prior service on the Board, have prepared me well to facilitate conversations and collaboration toward NAGC’s goals. I look forward to encouraging innovative efforts to build bridges across groups within NAGC and broaden our community with partnerships. I will seek creative opportunities to enhance how the organization supports current members and enables effective networking and collaboration. Further, I am committed to ensuring the financial health of the organization and engaging in thoughtful decision-making efforts that support NAGC’s future.

School and District Representative

April Wells, Gifted Coordinator, School District U-46, Elgin, IL

My desire to serve students, widening access, and dismantling barriers, compels me to serve and connect perspectives as we advocate for the timely and timeless supports that honor the identities and trajectories of gifted learners. Leveraging my leadership in the area of providing opportunities for children with potential for advanced learning and achievement, particularly for children who have historically been underserved, I endeavor bridging experiences and highlighting the ways in which we can shift our focus to embrace a more responsive approach to gifted programming that is inclusive and honors the diversity of gifted learners from all backgrounds. My commitment to seeking out opportunities for all children, my knowledge of the research on best practices and ability to bridge scholarship and practice, my ability to lead others towards substantial change and my willingness to collaborate with others situate me in a way that honors the direction of the field while embodying a restorative approach for previous mishandling of students from underrepresented populations. Coupling the efforts at the systems level with the essential partnership of family and community, I envision shaping innovative mindsets that foster experiences for us to honor the brilliance and strengths of our nation’s beautiful thinkers.

Network Representative

Antonia Szymanski, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Gifted Studies, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

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.

I have presented my research findings nationally and internationally, advocating for the needs of gifted learners. I firmly believe that the education of gifted students is not a luxury, but a necessity for our society’s progress. By recognizing and supporting these students, we can unlock their full potential and create a better future for us all. Overall, I am committed to making a difference in the lives of gifted learners and their families, and I will continue to work tirelessly to promote their educational needs and well-being.

At-Large Directors 

D. Betsy McCoach, Ph.D., Professor, University of Connecticut, Department of Educational Psychology, Storrs, CT

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.

Dornswalo Wilkins-McCorey, Ph.D., Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Beach, VA

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.

Presidential Appointee

Darryl L. Peterkin, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Student Success and Equity, Macaulay Honors College at The City University of New York

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.