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Gifted and Creative Education

Through these programs, become grounded in the idea that giftedness and creativity are expressed in diverse ways among diverse people; that creativity is a universal potential to be nurtured and enhanced; and that the best education is tailored to students’ specific needs. You will focus on instruction, research, and service.

Our students learn to support gifted and creative learners through hands-on projects and courses that delve into this unique learning process.

Upcoming Dates

Degree Programs

Master of Education (MEd)

Master of Arts (MA)

Educational Specialist (EdS)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Non-Degree Programs

Certificate Programs

Endorsement/Certificate Programs

  • Gifted In-Field Endorsement and Certificate

    The Gifted In-Field Endorsement is an add on credential that allows certified teachers in Georgia the ability to provide direct instruction to students in their areas of initial certification. Teachers with gifted endorsement can also serve as a resource teacher for indirect services for gifted education in any content area or grade level P-12.

Faculty Introductions

Anna Abraham

Denis Dumas

Sakhavat Mammadov

Our Graduate Students

Ayşe Hi̇lal Avci

Ayşe Hilal is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Educational Psychology department and a graduate research assistant in the Gifted and Creative Education (GCE) program at the University of Georgia (UGA). With five years of teaching experience and an M.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies from SUNY Buffalo she has developed a genuine interest in exploring the underlying social-emotional learning (SEL) mechanisms that drive learning and development. Her research focuses on SEL and well-being. She is the recipient of UGA’s Graduate School Doctoral Fellow Award. Outside of academia, she is a passionate East Coast Swing dancer, seizing any opportunity to dance.

Melani̇e Carrera-Flores

Melani̇e is a first year Ph.D. student in the Educational Psychology department and a graduate assistant in the Gifted and Creative Education (GCE) program at the University of Georgia. She graduated from University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in psychology (and a minor in Counseling and Human Development & Family Sciences), which has led her to pursue a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology, particularly in the field of creativity. She has experience working in a lab as an undergraduate assistant, collecting and finding correlations between data sets. Her personal interests include reading and playing games.

Si̇nan Akalin

Si̇nan is a first year Ph.D. student in the Gifted and Creative Education (GCE) program. He received his bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Izmir University of Economics. During his undergraduate studies, he had the opportunity to both practice and observe the creative process of design. He then went on to do a Design Management Master’s at Coventry University where he investigated how criticism anticipation impacted creative performances of practicing designers. He is passionate about creativity and creative thinking in general. In his free time, he forces himself to learn new things, explore new places, and practices powerlifting.

Sofiia Kagan

Sofiia is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Educational Psychology department and a graduate research assistant in the Gifted and Creative Education (GCE) program at the University of Georgia. Her background in Cultural Studies (B.A.) and Science of Learning and Assessment in Education and Psychology (M.S.) has led her to pursue a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology with the scope of creativity. She has experience in developing scenario-based tests and conducting psychometric analysis of assessment tools at various laboratories focused on creativity, critical thinking, communication, and cooperation throughout her studies. She loves reading, playing piano, traveling, and hiking!

Yasemi̇n Si̇pahi̇

Yasemi̇n is a second year Ph.D. student in the department of Educational Psychology at the University of Georgia (UGA). She serves as a research assistant for the Gifted and Creative Education (GCE) Program at UGA. Her research interests include mathematical giftedness, mathematical creativity, and problem-solving. She is the recipient of UGA’s Presidential Fellow Award. She also serves as the communication chair and the GCE representative in Graduate Researchers in Educational Psychology. In her free time, Yasemi̇n enjoys watching movies, working out, and going on hikes. Fun fact about her: she is fond of driving sports cars.

Yoojoong Kim

Yoojoong is a second year Ph.D. student in the Department of Educational Psychology, and she is a graduate assistant at Torrance Center and Creativity & Imagination Lab. She previously worked as a public-school resource room teacher in South Korea. She was acknowledged of developing and administering a unique curriculum for inclusive education of students with disabilities resulting in winning the Minister of Education Award at the district level (e.g., operated a small crop garden, barista certification classes and peer mentoring programs). Further, she published a paper under the theme of “Relationships between Cognitive Loading, Types of Mind Map and Creative Thinking Skills” in Asian Journal of Education. Her research and advocacy interests are the association between curiosity, creativity, and imagination, training effects of creativity and imagination, and twice-exceptionality. Currently, she is working on a research project exploring the association between curiosity, creativity, and imagination with Dr. Abraham.

Faculty and Staff

Anna Abraham E. Paul Torrance Professor
Kadir Bahar Assistant Professor
Denis Dumas Associate Professor
Meg Easom Hines Senior Lecturer
Sakhavat Mammadov Associate Professor

Contact Info

323 Aderhold Hall 110 Carlton Street Athens, Georgia 30602
© University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
706‑542‑3000