Big news from William & Mary! The School of Education has appointed an internationally recognized leader to head its Center for Gifted Education. With decades of groundbreaking work in research, curriculum, and advocacy, what incredible new initiatives will this visionary bring to empower high-ability students? Find out more about this exciting new chapter!

Shelagh A. Gallagher, a distinguished figure renowned for her international contributions to gifted education, has been officially appointed executive director of the William & Mary Center for Gifted Education (CFGE), concurrently receiving the prestigious title of the Jody and Layton Smith Professor of Gifted Education and Talent Development.

Set to commence her pivotal role in fall 2025, Dr. Gallagher brings an unparalleled depth of expertise, cultivated over more than three decades, encompassing groundbreaking research, innovative curriculum design, impactful policy advocacy, and comprehensive teacher preparation. Her extensive background perfectly positions her to elevate the center’s mission and broaden its national and international influence in the field of gifted education.

Prior to her anticipated return to William & Mary, Dr. Gallagher held a prominent position at the University of North Texas, where she adeptly directed the Office of Gifted and Talented Education. Her career also includes founding and leading Engaged Education, a consultancy dedicated to empowering gifted students, their educators, and families through evidence-based curriculum development, professional learning, and program evaluation. Notably, she previously served as associate director for grants and contracts at CFGE, contributing significantly under the guidance of its founding Executive Director, Joyce Van Tassel-Baska.

Dean Robert C. Knoeppel of William & Mary’s School of Education expressed profound enthusiasm for Dr. Gallagher’s appointment, emphasizing that her exceptional scholarship, pioneering approaches to curriculum and advocacy, and steadfast dedication to fostering equity in gifted education are in perfect harmony with the Center’s core mission to transform the educational trajectories of high-ability students.

Dr. Gallagher is widely celebrated for her profound insights into problem-based learning, the cultivation of creative expertise, and the nuanced cognitive and personality characteristics that define gifted students. Her prolific publications cover a diverse range of topics, including the historical landscape of equity efforts within gifted education, gender disparities in mathematics performance, and strategic methodologies for identifying and nurturing giftedness across culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse populations. Furthermore, her influence extends to significant policy leadership, highlighted by her co-authorship of the national “America Agrees” report and her instrumental role in spearheading North Carolina’s statewide initiatives, “Talent Delayed/Talent Denied II” and “Talent Unleashed,” aimed at expanding support for traditionally under-identified gifted students. She has also served three terms on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), currently presiding as its President.

Her substantial contributions to the field have garnered numerous accolades, underscoring her impact and innovation. Dr. Gallagher has been honored as a Person of SIGnificance in Gifted Education by the National Society for Gifted Education, received the prestigious James J. Gallagher Advocacy Award and a Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, and is an extraordinary nine-time recipient of the NAGC Award for Exemplary Curriculum, recognizing her seminal work in problem-based learning curriculum for gifted students. Her highly regarded curriculum units, such as “Ferret it Out” and “Fit to Print,” are implemented in classrooms nationwide and internationally, further cementing her legacy in educational excellence.

Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Gallagher has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership, a commitment to collaborative partnerships, and an unwavering dedication to translating cutting-edge research into tangible educational practices. Her success in securing millions of dollars in competitive grants, including significant U.S. Department of Education Jacob K. Javits awards, has facilitated the development and widespread scaling of curriculum models specifically designed to identify and effectively serve gifted students from underrepresented groups. Her global engagement includes consulting for the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools in Kazakhstan and contributing to the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children’s “Global Principles for Professional Learning in Gifted Education.”

Beyond her administrative and research endeavors, Dr. Gallagher’s teaching prowess spans undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, covering critical areas such as gifted education theory, social-emotional development, advanced curriculum design, and problem-based learning. She has dedicated herself to mentoring graduate students from diverse backgrounds, meticulously preparing the next generation of researchers, practitioners, and advocates in this specialized field. Crucially, her deep connection to the K-12 gifted students she serves remains a cornerstone of her work; each summer, she directly engages with gifted youth at Yunasa Summer Camps, an innovative program fostering the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical development of high-ability young people. This unique ability to bridge academic research with authentic real-world experience ensures her work is consistently grounded in the genuine needs of gifted learners.

Expressing her honor to join the William & Mary Center for Gifted Education during such a transformative period for the field, Dr. Gallagher articulated her anticipation of building upon the center’s storied legacy of excellence in curriculum development, research, and advocacy. As executive director, she will strategically lead and operationally manage five critical areas: graduate instruction, precollegiate programs, curriculum development, research, and professional development. Collaborating closely with the School of Education leadership and faculty, her vision includes expanding programming for high-ability learners, strengthening educator preparation, and significantly increasing the center’s national and international impact. Under her guidance, CFGE will continue hallmark initiatives such as educating students in the Ph.D. and Ed.D. in Gifted Education Administration and the Online Certificate in Gifted Education; maintaining precollegiate opportunities like Camp Launch, a residential program for underserved middle and high school students, and the Optimist Project, a leadership and history initiative for Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars; providing innovative curriculum materials, including updates to the Center’s acclaimed language arts units to reflect best practices in culturally responsive teaching; and, spearheading new talent development efforts, such as the 2025 Talent Search Program to identify and support emerging scholars. With CFGE materials utilized in all 50 states and approximately 30 countries, and its annual training reaching over 800 teachers, preparing more than 500 for gifted education endorsements, and serving over 400 high-ability students, the focus on innovative programming and an inclusive environment for diverse gifted and talented students remains a paramount priority. Dean Knoeppel eagerly anticipates Dr. Gallagher’s leadership in both upholding the center’s strong foundation and forging new pathways that effectively address the evolving needs of the field.