Renzulli is professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, where he also serves as director of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. His definition suggests that “giftedness” consist of three characteristics in equal parts: intelligence, creativity and perseverance.

Sandra Chafouleas, a professor at UConn’s Neag School of Education and co-director of the UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), said that all schools need to make learning joyful and emphasize relationships, flexibility and a focus on the whole child. Most importantly, Chafouleas said, schools needed to invest in building teacher-student relationships. She said that just one teacher could make an enormous difference in the path of a child.

Jason Irizarry, who has served as interim dean since March 1, will be the first Latino dean to lead the Neag School.

Looking for an inspiring discussion of creativity and its potential? In this episode, Joe Binetti talks to renowned creativity expert Professor James C. Kaufman of the University of Connecticut, who co-developed the influential Four-Cs model of creativity – amongst many other things.

“Jack was known for many contributions to our field but especially his passionate commitment to our organization, his many talented doctoral students, and his innovative survey of trends in reading, the annual What’s Hot, What’s Not study. He was a friend to everyone in the literacy community and will be missed by us all. I will always remember his wide, welcoming smile each and every time we met.” —Donald J. Leu, University of Connecticut

You may best remember Batouly Camara from her days on the court at UConn, but she’s stayed plenty busy since then. She wrote a children’s book, “A Basketball Game on Wake Street,” made Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, was honored at the ESPYs, and plans to travel to Africa to pursue an Olympic dream. In this week’s UConn Report podcast, hosted by Hearst Connecticut Media’s Doug Bonjour, Camara discusses her latest ventures both within and outside basketball.

Westbrook Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Talmadge as the new Westbrook Middle School principal effective July 1.

Through the help of Zaghi, Hain, Civil Engineering Professor Richard Christenson, Educational Psychology Professor Joseph Madaus, English Professor Tom Deans, and Literacy Education Professor Rachael Gabriel, the team will be developing a strength profiler tool, creating a peer mentoring program, piloting a technical writing program, and holding stakeholder workshops.

UConn had an all-time high of 17 semifinalists for the Fulbright Student Program award, which includes the six finalists and three alternates.

This is not the end, it’s the beginning. That was the message from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona ’01 MA, ’04 6th Year, ’11 Ed.D., ’12 ELP to UConn’s 2021 graduates, delivered Saturday, May 8 via video during the livestreamed commencement ceremony for all students receiving degrees this year – undergraduate, graduate, and professional.