Torrance Center Summer Institute

Anna Abraham, Ph.D. is the E. Paul Torrance Professor and Director of the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development at the University of Georgia. She investigates the psychological and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying creativity and the imagination. She is the author of the 2018 book, The Neuroscience of Creativity (Cambridge University Press).

Audra Anjum is an instructional designer at Ohio University. Over the past decade of professional practice, Anjum’s work as an instructional designer has mainly centered around faculty development and course design. She has collaborated with over 200 faculty members and subject-matter experts on all or parts of hundreds of courses, seminars, and other transformative learning experiences.

Karrah Bowman is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the School Psychology program at the University of Georgia. Her research employs implementation science frameworks to foster an inclusive educational environment for autistic students. Karrah also enjoys the creativity involved in teaching and values a collaborative learning environment in which she serves as a facilitator of her students’ learning.

Jennifer Kleiman brings a distinct perspective to AI in education, shaped by her experiences as both a tech leader and mathematician. After leading engineering teams and founding a consumer products company, she returned to her foundational passion: revolutionizing how we teach and learn mathematics. Currently pursuing her doctorate at UGA, Jennifer’s research explores the thoughtful integration of AI in mathematics education as a partner in nurturing critical thinking, fostering creativity, and empowering learners to chart their own mathematical journeys.

Emmaleigh Klein, M.S., CF-LSP is a Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia in the Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development Department. Her research interests include creativity, team functioning, leadership development, coaching, and Lego® Serious Play®. Her former employers include The Walt Disney Company, Chick-fil-A, and Azusa Pacific University.

Desiree Sharpe is the Program Coordinator for the UGA Torrance Center. Dr. Sharpe received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Georgia, specializing in behavioral neuroendocrinology and cognitive neuroscience. She currently leads scoring workshops for Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking and other professional learning courses centered on teaching for creativity.