Month: October 2020




Joseph Renzulli 2016 Confratute Keynote Address

The Renzulli Center: A Worldwide Leader in Gifted Education

October 27, 2020

Joseph Renzulli served as founding director of the Neag Center, the Lynn and Ray Neag Endowed Chair for Talent Development, as well as the first director of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented (NRC/GT), then one of a dozen centers in the U.S. focused on addressing significant issues in the education of gifted and talented students, and enrichment education. Under Renzulli’s guidance, the Neag Center evolved into one of the leading centers in gifted education and talent development in the world.


Empty Classroom.

The Prevalence and the Price of Police in Schools

October 27, 2020

Since the 1900s, U.S. public schools have employed a growing number of school resource officers (SROs) – defined here as sworn law enforcement officials. In 1975, only 1% of schools reported having police officers on site, but by 2018, approximately 58% of schools had at least one sworn law enforcement official present during the school week.


Gender Barriers in Sports

October 26, 2020

In this episode, Nicole talks to colleague Dr. Jennifer (Bruening) McGarry, a professor of sport management and department head in Educational Leadership in the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut and Executive Director Husky Sport. They discuss Jennifer’s career pathway, which includes stints as a coach and athletics director, her research related to gender and sport, which is focused primarily on barriers and supports for women, and those from minoritized ethnic and socio-economic groups. Jennifer also offers advice to women who want to pursue a career in sport.


‘An Unusual Situation’: Here’s How Students Teachers are Working During a Pandemic

October 26, 2020

Violet Jiménez Sims, associate director of teacher education for School-University Partnership at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, agrees that this year is certainly different. Over the summer, UConn met with partner districts to map out clinical placements. The first thing they learned: not everyone’s definition of hybrid is the same.
“Some were pivoting from in-person to virtual learning and grappling with how many individuals would be allowed in classrooms,” Sims said.



Education Professor David K. Cohen Died Last Month. His Work Changed Me – And Our Field

October 21, 2020

“My friend, David K. Cohen, died on September 23. A prolific scholar of teaching, learning, educational reform, and social policy, David was a renowned writer and beloved teacher and mentor,” says Neag Endowed Professor of Teacher Education Suzanne Wilson. “Many have studied teaching and educational policy. But David’s work was special for reasons that enriched my life and education scholarship.”


UConn LENDs a Hand to Those With Disabilities

October 16, 2020

“Our number-one goal is to enhance the quality of life of those with developmental disabilities and that of their families,” says early childhood intervention expert Dr. Mary Beth Bruder, the UCEDD’s director and professor of public health sciences and pediatrics at the UConn School of Medicine and Neag School of Education. “A qualified workforce to help accomplish this goal is critical for all of society.”


Director of NCRGE Shares Research Findings on Underrepresentation in Gifted Education

October 15, 2020

On September 22, the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) welcomed Dr. Del Siegle, who is a professor in the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education and the director of the National Center for Research on Gifted Education (NCRGE), to deliver a presentation entitled “Report from the NCRGE: Problems and Promising Practices in Gifted Education.”