Should We Use the Term 'Gifted'?
Includes a Live Web Event on 05/04/2026 at 5:00 PM (EDT)
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- Non-member - $20
- Member - Free!
- Student - Free!
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.
Joi Lin
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.
Hernan Castillo-Hermosilla
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.
Frank C. Worrell
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.
Jennifer Riedl Cross
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.
Viviana Prieto
Viviana Prieto is a District Program Specialist in Marion County, FL. She has been offering support to students, teachers, schools, and parents as they navigate gifted education through the K-12 system since 2012. This includes developing Education Plans and implementing gifted curricular strategies. She started her educational career in 3-6 Montessori Education Certification. Then she earned her Bachelor's in Elementary Education, went on to a Master’s Degree in Special Education with a specialization in Gifted Curriculum, and later pursued a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. She was a part of the state-requested committee through the Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS) to update and redesign Florida’s gifted endorsement courses. Viviana is currently providing professional learning opportunities for all teachers concerning gifted curriculum through her district and FDLRS.
Matt Makel
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.