Keynote Speakers
     

M. Elizabeth Nielsen, Ph.D.
 
Dr. M. Elizabeth Nielsen is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and serves as the coordinator for the Gifted Education Teacher Training Program. Dr. Nielsen has served as a UNM College of Education Assistant Dean for Research and is the recipient of the Burlington Foundation Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching. Since 1985, Dr. Nielsen has focused much of her university work and research on the unique populations of gifted learners with learning disabilities. She has published numerous articles and textbook chapters regarding these twice-exceptional students. Additionally, she has been a key note speaker at various state conferences and has made over fifty presentations at national, regional, and local conferences and has assisted in the production of nationally disseminated audio and video recordings on this topic. She has been the principal investigator for two university and public school district collaborative projects focused on gifted students with disabilities. Dr. Nielsen has served as a reviewer for several gifted education/special education journals and is an active member of the National Association for Gifted Children’s Special Population Division. Dr. Nielsen holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in Education from the University of Louisville. Her Ph.D. is in Educational Psychology from Purdue University.
    

L. Dennis Higgins, Ed.D.

Dr. Higgins works directly with twice-exceptional students in the Albuquerque Public School System in self-contained, full-day sessions.  He authored and implements a comprehensive, three-year cycled curriculum designed to meet their social/emotional needs, gifted education, special education and academic needs.  He works as a consultant for twice-exceptional programs to many school districts across the nation.  Dr. Higgins is an adjunct professor of Special Education for the University of New Mexico, teaching courses related to gifted and talented children.  In addition to his responsibilities concerning twice-exceptional children, Dr. Higgins serves as co-coordinator for New Mexico’s Technology SPOTLIGHT project - a project that connects gifted children from the state of New Mexico with enriched classes and mentors via internet and on-line services. He is the former coordinator for the Albuquerque Public Schools Summer Programs for the Gifted and Talented and former president of Albuquerque’s parent organization for gifted children.  He served as the Chairperson of the Futures Studies Division for the National Association for Gifted Children, is a former faculty member of the Texas Governor’s Honors Program, a summer program for highly gifted high school students in Texas, and the Summer Enrichment Program in Colorado.  He has authored and co-authored numerous articles, two book chapters and has produced several music and video recordings that focus on twice-exceptional children.  He has contributed and consulted on the joint CEC/NAGC “Twice-Exceptional Dilemma” document.  His program is featured in the PBS Television Special “ A Chance to Read” for the syndicated program Reading Rockets.  In 2006, Dr. Higgins was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame for his national contributions to children’s music.  In 2007, he was awarded the New Mexico Golden Apple for Excellence in Teaching for his service to the Albuquerque School District.  In 2008, he was awarded the Albuquerque School District Teacher of the Year.  He was most recently honored by the New Mexico Autism Society for his work with children with Asperger Syndrome.  He is recognized as a Southern Methodist University School of Education and Human Development Distinguished Lecturer.
 

Karen L. J. Isaacson

Karen Isaacson spent her growing-up years with a large family of quirky, gifted people. She now has five children of her own, who have carried on the fine tradition of being slightly eccentric individuals who show their creativity in their own peculiar ways. With all this material to work with, Karen couldn’t help but write a book, which she titled Raisin’ Brains: Surviving My Smart Family. This book won the 2002 ForeWord Magazine Book-of-the-Year Gold Award for Humor. Each humorous chapter gently informs the reader about the traits of giftedness and creativity while emphasizing the value of the individual. Karen firmly believes that people are valuable precisely because of their uniqueness. She enjoys speaking on this topic, and as always, makes liberal use of humor to get the point across.

She has written stories for newspapers and magazines, a book for a reading program, and just finished her newest book with co-author Tamara Fisher, Intelligent Life in the Classroom: Smart Kids and their Teachers, a companion to Raisin' Brains. She is also working on a young adult novel scheduled to be released in 2007. She is involved in a parent group that works to provide enrichment opportunities for the local school district. Although most of her time is spent being a mom, she dedicates every spare moment to the creative process, whether it is writing, painting, jewelry-making, or remodeling her home.

Karen lives in Montana with her husband, who has supported her in all of her creative endeavors, and with her children.
  

  
Mini-Keynote Speaker
     

Ashley Merryman
 
With Po Bronson, Ashley Merryman is the co-author of NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children, to be published in September by Twelve.

Just in the past two years, Merryman and Bronson have won the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Award for Best Science Journalism, a Clarion Award for Best Magazine Feature, the Mensa Press Award, and the award for outstanding journalism from the Council on Contemporary Families.

Beginning on August 31, 2009, Merryman and Bronson will be writing a daily "NurtureShock" column for Newsweek.com.

Prior to her collaboration with Bronson, Merryman's journalism appeared in The Washington Post and The National Catholic Reporter.  She has been a commentator on television and radio shows seen and heard around the nation.

Merryman holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, a Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University's Law Center, and a Certificate in Irish Studies from Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

She lives in Los Angeles, where she has directed a small all-volunteer tutoring program for inner-city kids for 10 years.  For her civic involvement, Merryman received commendations from both the Clinton and Bush Administrations.