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Board of Directors
Dr. Lin Lim, President
Dr. Lin Lim is a graduate of Boston University, where she earned a Ph.D. in human development. She also holds an Academic Graduate Certificate in twice-exceptional education from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, and completing an Academic Graduate Certificate in Mind, Brain and Education from Johns Hopkins University Graduate School of Education. Dr. Lim volunteers for education related non-profits as her community involvement commitment as she journeys through parenting her gifted children. Dr. Lim is a founding board member of the Gifted Education Family Network, a Texas non-profit supporting gifted programming in public education.
Adam Laningham:
President-Elect
Adam Laningham, author of Gifted Children & How Trauma Impacts Them, and Thinkology 2.0, has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. Adam was recognized as the Arizona Gifted Teacher of the Year, he has taught at several schools in multiple grade levels, created and facilitated numerous gifted programs, and also served as a district gifted services manager coordinating programs for over 6000 gifted students.
Adam has served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Association for Gifted & Talented for many years and is currently the President Elect of SENG. As founder and owner of Bright Child AZ, Adam is an international speaker, consultant, and gifted advocate.
Adam has served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Association for Gifted & Talented for many years and is currently the President Elect of SENG. As founder and owner of Bright Child AZ, Adam is an international speaker, consultant, and gifted advocate.
Sylvia Bagley: Secretary
Sylvia S. Bagley, Ph.D., is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, where she earned her doctorate in the history and philosophy of education. She was formerly an elementary school teacher and instructional math coach, and is now a professor of equitable instructional leadership in the College of Education at the University of Washington, Seattle. As the parent of three twice-exceptional kids between the ages of 10 and 14, she is grateful for ongoing support from SENG, where she serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary of the Executive Committee and Chair of SMPG.
Dr. Jeffrey Tsang: Finance Chair
Dr. Jeffrey Tsang earned their PhD in applied mathematics (evolutionary game theory) at the age of 23 from the University of Guelph, Canada. They have worked as a quantitative researcher at a Wall Street firm, and is currently a senior software engineer at Google. They bring to the board extensive experience in financial and data analysis, and is serving as Finance Officer for the term 2020--2022.
Jeffrey also holds bachelors' degrees in mathematics and computer science, along with minors in biology and physics, and a diploma in piano performance. They were a professional choir section lead, has represented Canada in the World Junior Bridge Team Championships, has a black belt in Taekwondo, and has summited Mt. Aconcagua (22,837ft) in Argentina.
Jeffrey recalls being introduced to SENG in 2005, when it was a rare resource that was accessible for support and guidance at a critical juncture in their journey.
Jeffrey also holds bachelors' degrees in mathematics and computer science, along with minors in biology and physics, and a diploma in piano performance. They were a professional choir section lead, has represented Canada in the World Junior Bridge Team Championships, has a black belt in Taekwondo, and has summited Mt. Aconcagua (22,837ft) in Argentina.
Jeffrey recalls being introduced to SENG in 2005, when it was a rare resource that was accessible for support and guidance at a critical juncture in their journey.
Lisa Sticca-Conrod: Finance Chair-Elect
Lisa Sticca-Conrod is an attorney, professor, professional tutor, educational consultant, and executive functioning coach who has taught for several colleges and universities over the last 20 years in various disciplines, including Law, Ethics, Economics, Leadership, Management, Strategy, and Math. She holds a JD From Quinnipiac University, an MS Educational Psychology (Gifted and Talented Development) from the University of North Texas, Graduate Certificates in Neurodiversity, Executive Functioning, and Autism from Landmark College, as well as undergraduate degrees in Economics and International Studies, with minors in Spanish and Music Theory. Lisa has published several textbooks and other academic materials. Currently, Lisa holds Executive Board leadership positions in three non-profit organizations that advocate for the needs of the gifted and neurodiverse populations. She is currently Vice-President and General Counsel of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum (GHF), head of GHF Press and GHF Dialogue (Journal), Vice-President of the Connecticut Association for the Gifted, and is the Finance Chair-elect for SENG, where she has also served as the Northeast Regional Coordinator for Liaisons.
Kristin Ashley
Kristin Ashley is a gifted adult passionate about helping people heal, recover, and create happiness as they cross the thresholds of life’s challenges and joys. A holistic health clinician, registered yoga therapist (C-IAYT), and registered yoga teacher (200-RYT) with a background in clinical psychology, English, yoga, and holistic health, Kristin is crossing a new threshold of her own as she prepares to launch The Holi Land, her holistic health clinic where she will offer clinical yoga therapy and holistic health coaching both in-person and online. Kristin lives near New Orleans, Louisiana with her cat, Mina.
Dr. Karen Arnstein -
Dr. Karen Arnstein is a graduate of the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver where she earned an Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with a Specialization for the Gifted. Dr. Arnstein is a consultant, speaker, and author dedicated to helping teachers and school districts understand how to identify and provide a strengths-based curriculum while simultaneously addressing challenges of twice-exceptional students. She is the co-founder and Director of Technology at Sierra Gifted Educational Services, a non-profit dedicated to bringing enrichment opportunities and resources to gifted and twice-exceptional students.
Dr. Arnstein teaches graduate courses in education to pre-service teachers at the University of Redlands. Her involvement with SENG began when her twice-exceptional son was only 5 years old. She is a strong advocate for SENG while discovering new challenges parenting a twice-exceptional teenager. She and her family reside in Southern California.
Dr. Arnstein teaches graduate courses in education to pre-service teachers at the University of Redlands. Her involvement with SENG began when her twice-exceptional son was only 5 years old. She is a strong advocate for SENG while discovering new challenges parenting a twice-exceptional teenager. She and her family reside in Southern California.
Mark Hess
Mark Hess is the Gifted Programs Specialist in Colorado Springs District 11 and President-Elect for the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented. Mark serves on NAGC's Teaching for High Potential Editorial Committee and previously on SENG's Editorial and Research Committee as well. He has published more than 200 lessons and units designed for gifted learners and often contributes articles for SENG's library and the NAGC blog. Mark has three social-emotional curriculum books due to be published by Prufrock Press in May of 2121.
Denise Michele Hicks
Denise Michele Hicks is originally from a Blue Star Military Family of Chicago, Illinois. She is the current President of Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented. While in Chicago Public Schools, she participated in gifted programming and STEM enrichment services. She is an alumna from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Northwestern University working to continue her family legacy of service in public science, public education and public health. As a member of SENG's Board of Directors, she will continue to work with the NAGC Committee's STEM, Javits-Frasier Scholars Program and Dr. Martin Jenkins Scholars Program. She is looking forward to working on future service and programming projects. She has completed her advanced certifications in Gifted and Talented Education at the University of Connecticut at Storrs. Currently, while working on her doctoral studies in STEM Ed Leadership, she serves at Arizona State University in the Center for Bio-mediated, Bio-inspired Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory, ASU ACCESS Educational Program Initiatives and US Military Academies Advising Team for Arizona’s Congressional 3rd District.
Shaunne McKinley
Shaunne McKinley is currently a Gifted Specialist in the Deer Valley School District in Phoenix, Arizona. She has been in education for 20 years. Shaunne teaches reading, math and social-emotional lessons to gifted learners. She is a member of her campus leadership team and the advisor for the National Elementary Honor Society. Shaunne has also been a member of the district Gifted leadership team for 5 years.
Shaunne is an active member in her church community, and is an advocate for promoting gifted information and awareness to families. She is married to a Marine Corps veteran and has two adult sons. Her youngest son was identified as a gifted learner in second grade, which began her journey to learning more about giftedness.
Shaunne is a trained SENG Model Parent Group facilitator and a member of the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented. She is a graduate of Arizona State University.
Shaunne is an active member in her church community, and is an advocate for promoting gifted information and awareness to families. She is married to a Marine Corps veteran and has two adult sons. Her youngest son was identified as a gifted learner in second grade, which began her journey to learning more about giftedness.
Shaunne is a trained SENG Model Parent Group facilitator and a member of the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented. She is a graduate of Arizona State University.
Rianne van de Ven
Rianne van de Ven (1971, the Netherlands) is a social entrepreneur specialized in gifted adults.
After a career in Telecom, ICT, and banking she started her own company as a professional coach in 2007. First part time, next to her job at a large Dutch bank, but since 2016 she is fully self-employed and works as an author, speaker, trainer, supervisor, and teacher on the subject of gifted adults. She started a second company where she provides professional services for gifted adults in the workplace together with 20 colleagues.
After a career in Telecom, ICT, and banking she started her own company as a professional coach in 2007. First part time, next to her job at a large Dutch bank, but since 2016 she is fully self-employed and works as an author, speaker, trainer, supervisor, and teacher on the subject of gifted adults. She started a second company where she provides professional services for gifted adults in the workplace together with 20 colleagues.
Staff
Heather Pace
Executive Director
Saba Seyoum
Brian Shea
Trent Cash
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