Profile

Paula Olszewski-Kubilius Director, Center for Talent Development, Center for Talent Development Professor, Education and Social Policy

Biography

Paula Olszewski-Kubilius is director of Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) and a professor in the School of Education and Social Policy. After 25 years with CTD, she is still excited to come to work each day. Paula has designed, implemented, assessed and improved outstanding educational programs for learners of all ages. She has also conducted research and published over 80 articles and book chapters on talent development issues, particularly the effects of accelerated educational programs and the needs of special populations of gifted children. By creating research-driven program models, assessing those programs and then writing about them, Paula strives to make CTD programs replicable, for even greater impact. Her own impact stretches beyond CTD through her advocacy initiatives. Paula currently serves on the board of directors of the National Association for Gifted Children and the Illinois Association for Gifted Children and serves on the board of trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. She is also a member of the editorial board of Gifted Child Today and Gifted Child Quarterly. In the past, she has edited, co-edited and served as consulting editor and editorial advisory board member on numerous gifted education publications. Paula earned her master's and doctorate degrees from Northwestern University in educational psychology and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from St. Xavier University in Chicago. Hard work and perseverance inspire her, just as she inspires the CTD staff with her own hard work on behalf of the gifted education community.

Research/Scholarship
Education

Year		Degree		Institution
1983		PhD, educational psychology		Northwestern University
1981		MA, educational psychology		Northwestern University
1977		BA, elementary education		St. Xavier University

Projects

Civic Education Project
Project BLAST
Project Excite

Research Interests

Talent development, accelerated educational programs, needs of special populations of gifted children

Teaching/Advising
Courses

MS_ED 445		The Gifted: Special Topics This course explores in depth critical issues in the fields of talent development and creativity.  A major focus is for students to identify an area of interest in which to read deeply and broadly, gaining perspectives from a variety of fields and areas of inquiry.
MS_ED 442		The Gifted: Theoretical Foundations of Creativity and Giftedness Topics in this foundations course include theories of creativity and giftedness; models of talent development; cognitive and social-emotional characteristics of gifted individuals; diverse populations of gifted learners; historical and current research in the field of gifted education.

Professional
Position Responsibilities

• Directs and oversees all activities of the Center for Talent Development, an outreach program of the School of Education and Social Policy that serves gifted children and their families through educational programs and services.