- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Gifted and Talented Educators Recognized for Contribution to Research for Gifted and Talented Low-Income Students

John Hill — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 14:25:19 +0000

A gifted and talented education professor and alumnus have been honored for their part in a book that discusses how to identify and help gifted and talented students from low-income households. Dr. Ann Robinson, director of the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and Dr. Monica Meadows, a two-time ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate who is a gifted and talented facilitator for Pulaski County Special School District, wrote a book chapter in the 2020 book “Unlocking Potential: Identifying and Serving Gifted Students from Low-Income Households,” edited by Tamra Stambaugh and Paula Olszewski-Kubilius. The National Association for Gifted Children selected the book for the 2021 Book of the Year Award in the Scholar Category. The award was created to recognize excellence in books published in gifted and talented education. Meanwhile, the Scholar Category recognizes books that offer an advanced understanding of contemporary research on gifted persons and gifted education. “The book as a whole talks about unlocking the potential of gifted and talented students from low-income backgrounds,” Meadows said. “The goal of the book deals with evidence-based identification practices, tools, and strategies for finding low-income gifted students and how to support their needs. It’s looking for kids who are often overlooked in the identification process for gifted and talented students.” The NAGC Publications Committee oversees the annual Book of the Year Awards, and every book that is submitted is reviewed by several members who bring expertise to a specific area: scholar, practitioner, or parent/caregiver. All of the winners will be recognized during the National Association for Gifted Children ceremony in November. “These outstanding publications exemplify NAGC’s commitment to promoting research-based books that aim to develop all our gifted and talented children. Trustworthy and comprehensive books such as these will greatly benefit our parents, teachers, and communities as they work diligently to meet the growing needs of their gifted learners,” said Lauri Kirsch, NAGC Board President.

Dr. Monica Meadows presents her research on gifted and talented research at a conference.

Meadows’ and Robinson’s chapter in the book offers educators and parents instructional strategies to identify and motivate gifted students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. “The chapter Dr. Robinson and I wrote includes instructional strategies for low-income students in the STEM fields,” Meadows said. “We incorporated a lot of examples from evidence-based programs that have data to back them up for kids from low-income households. The STEM fields offer a great way to spot kids that have exceptional abilities, especially kids whose talents may get overlooked in the core subjects.” A first-generation college graduate, Meadows holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Central Arkansas. Additionally, she earned a Master of Education degree in gifted and talented education and a Doctorate of Education in educational administration and supervision with an emphasis in gifted and talented education from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate is Sharing Gifted and Talented Education with the Community

John Hill — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 13:47:03 +0000

Dr. Monica Meadows, a gifted and talented facilitator for the Pulaski County Special School District, is making a difference by sharing her passion for gifted and talented education with the community. As the first person in their family to graduate from college, Meadows’ parents were so determined that she do well in college that they both took on second jobs so she would not have to work during her first two years of college. “It’s a good feeling for my family that I went to college and earned a degree,” she said. “It was something my parents always encouraged me to do. I think it has changed the course that my life has gone because I have a college degree. My mom was always so encouraging that even though I’m the first one to go to college, it was exciting for everyone when I graduated. I don’t think the idea of not continuing my studies after high school ever crossed my mind because she encouraged me from day one.” After completing a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Central Arkansas, Meadows began her career as a science teacher at Blytheville High School. After she became the science teacher at Wilbur Mills University Studies High School, Meadows had the opportunity to teach in the gifted and talented education program so she decided to head back to school to pursue the nine-credit hour requirement in graduate studies. At the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, Meadows found a true friend, advisor, and mentor in Dr. Ann Robinson, the center’s director, who ultimately convinced Meadows to complete a graduate certificate, master’s degree, and doctorate at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “In my family, the ultimate goal was to get a bachelor’s degree, and I never thought about anything else,” she said. “Dr. Ann Robinson really saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. Having strong professors and advisors really played a key role in my life.” Meadows has now been teaching for nearly two decades, and she’s no longer the only person in her family to earn a college degree. “When I finished my master’s degree, I encouraged my father to go to school,” Meadows said. “He actually got his bachelor’s degree in his mid-50s. He had been toying around with the idea for a while, and his job encouraged him by helping pay for his degree.” As a gifted and talented educator, Meadows said it’s important to identify and motivate these special students. If students are not being challenged in school, this can lead to boredom, behavioral challenges, and dropping out of school. “Our gifted and talented students think a little differently,” she said. “They are able to process information faster, and they need challenges and encouragement to meet their needs just like any other student. People sometimes think our gifted and smart kids will be okay no matter what, but that’s not the case. They need interventions, support and enrichment and encouragement just like any other kid.” She also continues to conduct research with Dr. Robinson. A book chapter the pair wrote is part of a book, “Unlocking Potential: Identifying and Serving Gifted Students from Low-Income Households,” that was recently selected as the 2021 Book of the Year Award by the National Association for Gifted Children. In the summertime, Meadows also works as an AP course assistant for the Jodie Mahony Center. She also serves on the board of directors for the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education as the parent affiliate director, an apt position as Meadows has now come full circle with two teenage daughters who are both in gifted and talented education programs. “I always make sure my kids are getting the classes they need so they don’t get bored,” Meadows said. “Just being a mom of two teenagers, I thought I had a lot of work when they were younger and I was in college. They are very involved in school. My husband and I are both educators, and we want them to be well rounded and be involved in activities and the arts and music.” Meadows suspects her own children will go on to earn graduate degrees as they have seen both their parents earn advanced degrees while working full time and raising a family. “My husband, Robert Meadows, is also getting his master’s degree at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” she said. “He decided he needed his master’s degree after I got my doctorate. He is getting his master’s degree in learning systems and educational technology. He loves this program so far and finds a lot of things that are useful for a music teacher, especially with the shift to offering online and hybrid courses. There’s been a lot of things he’s been able to adapt for his music classes.” Meadows’ advice for other first-generation college students is to pave your own road if you want to be successful. “You can do whatever you set your mind to,” Meadows said. “It doesn’t matter what others have done before you. When I started my bachelor’s degree, I never thought I would get a master’s, let alone a doctorate. I would literally do my school work while sitting and rocking a baby in a chair. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. You can do it as long as you have the support and drive and time management to see it through.”

Robinson Awarded A. Harry Passow International Award for Leadership in Gifted Education

John Hill — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:49:46 +0000

Dr. Ann Robinson, distinguished professor of education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has been honored for her dedication to serving and advocating for gifted children around the world.�� The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children awarded Robinson the A. Harry Passow International Award for Leadership in Gifted Education during its biennial World Conference.�� Recipients of this award hold international stature as a leader in gifted education. Their life and work have significantly influenced policy and practices in gifted education, or they have made other outstanding contributions in promoting the cause of gifted education worldwide. “This is a lovely award, particularly nice for me because I happened to know A. Harry Passow personally,” Robinson said. “He was a giant in the field of educational leadership. To receive an award named in his honor is amazing.” Dr. A. Harry Passow, Jacob H. Schiff Professor Emeritus of Education at Teachers College, was one of the world’s leading experts on gifted education as well as a founding member and past president of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Education.�� Passow collaborated on a project called the Graduate Leadership in Education Program. The project was directed from Teachers College and included four other universities nationwide. Robinson was a recipient of the program, and the fellowship provided funding during her time as a doctoral student at Purdue University. “Dr. Passow saw the wisdom in an international network of gifted education scholars back in the 1960s,” Robinson said. “He did some of the first work with students from low-income neighborhoods and communities. His perspective very much affected how I think about education. Many awards are lovely, but this one had a real personal touch to it for me.” Robinson serves as founding director of the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. It is one of only 25 centers in the nation dedicated to the development of gifted students and is also home to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s graduate programs in gifted and talented education. Under her leadership, the center has garnered millions of dollars in grants to help advance education in the state. Robinson, along with the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, also received the 2021 Presidential Award from the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education, which recognizes a person, organization, or institution that has been a powerful influence in gifted education across the state. Robinson is also a past president of the National Association for Gifted Children.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Briscoe, Agarwal, and MacFarlane as Top Professors of 2021

John Hill — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:15:03 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has selected Drs. David Briscoe, Nitin Agarwal, and Bronwyn MacFarlane as the 2021 winners of the Faculty Excellence Awards.�� Briscoe, professor of sociology, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Bailey Teaching Award and will receive a $5,000 award. Briscoe began his teaching career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1992 and has consistently been honored for excellence in teaching and public service over the past three decades. Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Information Science, was named the Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Endeavors winner and will receive a $5,000 award. Agarwal is an internationally known researcher who pioneered work in the social computing discipline. He launched the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), which was designated last year as a research center by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. MacFarlane, professor of gifted education, received the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award and will receive a $5,000 award. She has contributed extensively to public service in the field of gifted education and serves as a nationally elected and recognized leader in the National Association for Gifted Children. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock annually celebrates the achievements of the top professors of the year who are making a difference in the community through their contributions in teaching, research and creative works, and public service. This is the highest honor ��Vlog��ý Little Rock awards its faculty members. “Our faculty excellence winners represent the university’s commitment to superb instruction, outstanding research, and community service,” Provost Ann Bain said. “Each of the winners has made immeasurable contributions to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community and to the lives of their students and colleagues. We thank them for their service.” Created in 1989, the Faculty Excellence Awards has provided a way to recognize the great work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty for the past 32 years and is made possible through the valued contributions of the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor’s Circle, and the Bailey Foundation. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors selected the university-wide winners from the 12 faculty members who were selected as the top faculty members for the 2020-21 academic year in each of the three categories in their respective colleges and the William H. Bowen School of Law. Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching – Dr. David Briscoe, professor of sociology�� Briscoe has created a legacy of teaching excellence at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that stretches for nearly three decades. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in criminal justice from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a Ph.D. in sociology from Southern Illinois University.

Dr. David Briscoe

He began teaching at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1992 and has been consistently honored for excellence in teaching and public service. Briscoe has been awarded nearly 60 honors; earned professional development certification from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Oxford Round Table; and was twice named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence. He has received the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award four times and received the Faculty Excellence in Public Service Award in 2020. Briscoe is known as an advocate for students with disabilities and was voted among the Best of the Best Professors three times by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student body. He serves on the National Phi Kappa Phi Awards Committee, the Chancellor’s Race and Ethnicity Advisory Committee, the Centennial Campaign Cabinet, and the Institutional Effectiveness Committee.�� As the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, Briscoe assists with the certification and undergraduate education of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student-athletes, serves on a number of committees at the Sun Belt Conference, and served as a panelist at the 2019 Inaugural Diversity Summit. He is also well-known and admired for his role as a national volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America. As a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Briscoe became the inaugural national chairman of Learning for Life, an academic and character development program serving more than 1.7 million students throughout the United States. He also has the distinction of being the first African American in the state to serve on the Boy Scouts’ national executive board as well as the first African American in the country to be selected as the Alumnus of the Year in 2013, where he was chosen from among 50 million alumni of Boy Scouts. Faculty Excellence Award in Research – Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished professor of Information Science Agarwal is an internationally distinguished researcher whose pioneering work in the social computing discipline has significantly advanced this fledgling area and helped open many doors for innovation for the scientific community. His primary research interests are in social computing, (deviant) behavior modeling, studying group dynamics, influence, trust, collective action, social-cyber forensics, health informatics, data mining and privacy aims to be at the vanguard of the ever-evolving online behaviors.

Dr. Nitin Agarwal

At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he created the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS), which was designated as a research center by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in 2020.�� “STEM education needs to be research-driven so that we can expose our students to cutting-edge technologies to prepare them as the next generation workforce that is capable of developing innovative solutions to real-world problems,” Agarwal said. “Our students are the lifeblood of research projects at COSMOS. Our mission is to conduct competitive research, transition research from publications to practice, and inspire thought leaders that communicate science to society and contribute to the social good.” COSMOS has produced more than two dozen projects, published 10 books and more than 200 publications, and three important tools: Blogtrackers, YouTubeTracker and Focal Structure Analysis. In the past year, COSMOS has assisted the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office track scams and disinformation related to COVID-19 that led to the development of COVID-19 Misinformation Tracker. “Our research examines some of the very complex and interdisciplinary problems that challenge science and society alike,” Agarwal said. “For a meaningful impact, we partner with educators, researchers, businesses, practitioners, journalists, policymakers, defense and security agencies across our state, nation, and the world.” Since joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2009, Agarwal has brought in more than $10 million in funding for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock from sponsors like the U.S. Army Research Office, U.S. Office of Naval Research, U.S. Air Force Research Lab, U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. National Science Foundation, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Most recently, Agarwal edited a IEEE Internet Computing special issue on cyber social health that highlights developments of social media analytics used to gain a better understanding of online human behavior, as research in social media analytics has seen significant development of new and advanced techniques. and his co-editors, Drs. , , and , introduce a conceptual design that demonstrates modeling at cognitive, neural, and social levels for cumulative measurements in prediction, explainability, and mitigation of misinformation.�� Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service – Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane, professor of gifted education Bronwyn MacFarlane has contributed extensive public service in the field of gifted education. She has served as a nationally elected and recognized leader in the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) in the roles of chair of the STEM Network with more than 1,000 members and chair of the Counseling and Guidance Network, which serves over 700 members.��

Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane

For three years, MacFarlane wrote the popular column “The Curriculum Corner” in NAGC’s national magazine, “Teaching for High Potential.” She also serves as an editorial assistant and guest editor for the academic journal “Roeper Review.”�� MacFarlane has served as chair or a representative on more than 25 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock committees, on over 15 national and state education committees, and has held or continues to hold several state and national leadership positions in gifted education. In Little Rock, MacFarlane is a regular volunteer judge and guest speaker for events like the Central Arkansas Regional Science Fair, Arkansas 4-H, and Girls in STEM Leadership Conference. She provided expert commentary in interviews to the local media for parents to support children’s learning and mental health during the pandemic.�� MacFarlane has received national and international recognition in the field of gifted education. Some of her awards include the Early Leader Award from the National Association for Gifted Children in 2018, the Wedge Distinguished Scholar Award at Western Kentucky University in 2017, and the Challenger Award from the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education Association in 2016 for her cutting edge book “STEM Education for High Ability Learning.”�� She twice received the Faculty Excellence Award for Research, for the College of Education in 2014 and for the College of Education and Health Professions in 2019. She has been named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence, received the New Faculty Teaching Commendation, and twice received the Graduate and Retention Advocate Award.�� “Public service is integrated into my work, and my activities focus on ways to develop talent in different settings,” MacFarlane said. “My service activities at each level, whether local, university, state, national, or international, can be best summarized as contributing my time and expertise to supporting the talent development of others. Whether I am volunteering locally, evaluating federal projects and university programs, or speaking to parents and teachers about education, I am always focused on doing what I can to support someone’s talent development and growth.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Jodie Mahony Center recognized for excellence in gifted and talented education

John Hill — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 16:00:02 +0000

The Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the center’s director, Dr. Ann Robinson, have received the 2021 Presidential Award from the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE). “The Mahony Center is thrilled to receive the 2021 Presidential Award from Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education,” Robinson said. “This award is possible because the center has been supported by a fantastic and creative staff, by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock administrators who care about us and about our mission, and through the interest and support of the Mahony family. We are deeply appreciative to everyone and truly enjoyed the ceremony which brought together well-wishers from across the state and the country.” The AGATE Presidential Award recognizes a person, organization, or institution that has been a powerful influence in gifted education across the state. “Dr. Ann Robinson and the Mahony Center staff have educated many of the gifted and talented educators and leaders across the state who continue to have a lasting legacy in the gifted and talented education in Arkansas,” said Dustin Seaton, president of AGATE. The Mahony Center is one of only 25 gifted centers nationwide, and it is recognized nationally for its research, grants, professional development, STEM education initiatives, and leadership.

Members of the Jodie Mahony Center are shown during the AGATE Awards Ceremony.

“As a point of personal pride, Dr. Ann Robinson first introduced me to gifted education when I enrolled in her Saturday statistics course at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the spring of 2007,” Seaton said. “It was there I first learned about the importance of identification and program services for gifted students as well as met many other impressive gifted educators, such as Krystal Nail who is now program director of the Office for Gifted and Talented and Advanced Placement at ADE-DESE.” Both Robinson and Dr. Christine Deitz, associate director of the Jodie Mahony Center, have served as former presidents of AGATE and continue to play important roles in the National Association for Gifted Children. “Dr. Christine Deitz has also helped me transition into the AGATE presidency following in her footsteps this past July and personally helped me obtain my National Board certification in 2011,” Seaton said. “They both deserve all of the recognition bestowed upon the Presidential Award because of their tireless efforts both in public and behind the scenes.” This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Jodie Mahony Center’s founding. Robinson and the center are in good company when it comes to award winners. State Rep. Jodie Mahony, for whom the center is named, received the very first AGATE Presidential Award in 2004. “Mr. Mahony was a highly effective state legislator for 36 years,” Robinson said. “As early as the 1970s, he was elbow deep in developing legislation that enjoined schools to cultivate and develop the talents of young people. He was a visionary.” In the upper right picture, AGATE President Dustin Seaton congratulates Ann Robinson, director of the Jodie Mahony Center, during the AGATE Awards Ceremony.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Gifted and Talented Educators Recognized for Contribution to Research for Gifted and Talented Low-Income Students

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate is Sharing Gifted and Talented Education with the Community

Robinson Awarded A. Harry Passow International Award for Leadership in Gifted Education

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Briscoe, Agarwal, and MacFarlane as Top Professors of 2021

����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Jodie Mahony Center recognized for excellence in gifted and talented education

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate is Sharing Gifted and Talented Education with the Community

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Briscoe, Agarwal, and MacFarlane as Top Professors of 2021

��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Jodie Mahony Center recognized for excellence in gifted and talented education