Throughout their professional and personal lives,
the 2019 Hall of Fame honorees exemplify vision and leadership.

Susan G. Assouline, Ph.D.  –– researcher and scholar, especially interested in the psychological principle of individual differences. As director of the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa, and recipient of several federally funded grants, Susan’s work provides essential research-based information on characteristics and identification criteria, and has created awareness of the twice-exceptional population for educators, counselors, and psychologists. She continues to collaborate on interdisciplinary, clinically based research that brings knowledge and builds credibility in the area of twice-exceptionality, specifically for those with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.

J. Mark Bade & Linda C. Neumann–– journalists, writers, and parents on the 2e journey. In raising their two boys, Mark and Linda discovered a void when searching for accessible, reliable, and practical information about twice exceptionality. Understanding the need, they began compiling and sharing what they discovered –– creating the 2e Newsletter along the way –– which then became an essential component in the creation of an informed 2e community. It is through their mix of talents and generosity that Mark and Linda’s pioneering work continues to connect those who have felt alone, and has spread awareness of twice exceptionality around the world.

Sally M. Reis, Ph.D. –– advocate, leader, and researcher in the fields of talent development and education for the gifted and talented. Sally has championed the benefits of encouraging strengths and interests, including gifted students with special needs. Her vision extends to innovative work on the Schoolwide Enrichment Model, Gifted Girls and Women, and projects about 2e students, including “Music & Minds,“ a study of young adults with Williams syndrome. Her work highlights the success of recognizing and working with strengths in populations that traditionally only receive remediation. Sally holds the Letitia Neag Morgan Chair in Educational Psychology at the Neag School of Education and is past-president of NAGC, co-director of Confratute (the longest running summer institute on enrichment-based differentiated teaching), former Vice Provost of Academic Affairs at UConn, and recipient of numerous grants related to her work in twice exceptionality, Sally continues to inspire the next generation of scholars.

James T. Webb, Ph.D. –– activist, author, idealist, and organizer, Jim personally lived with many of the issues surrounding the asynchrony and intensities of giftedness. As a founding member of the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University, founder of SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted) nearly 40 years ago, and founder of Great Potential Press (with over fifty titles about gifted children and adults), his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment has provided critical support for those who live with the complexities of the often misunderstood and mis-diagnosed twice-exceptional population.