April 15, 2010
Expert on gifted education to join College of Education, direct Robinson Center for Young Scholars
Nancy B. Hertzog will join the UW’s College of Education faculty as professor and become director of the Robinson Center for Young Scholars, a program in Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Hertzog will come from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she has directed the University Primary School since 1995 and will begin her work at the UW in the fall of 2010.
Hertzog earned her doctorate at the University of Illinois, Champaign, in special education after teaching in classrooms in Virginia, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. As an associate professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Hertzog specializes in educational psychology and gifted education and directs the University Primary School, a program for gifted preschool-age children. Hertzog has made extensive contributions to the field of gifted education through publications and local, national, and international presentations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in the field and is the current Phi Delta Kappa president of her local chapter. Her awards include the Hollingsworth Award from the National Association for Gifted Children, the Curriculum Award from the National Association for Gifted Children, and the University of Illinois College of Education Faculty Award for Service.
“My passion has always been looking at how people are challenged, looking at how people grow,” says Hertzog. “I’ve always been interested in curricular aspects of challenging people, young people in particular. When I taught in gifted programs I had students of all ages and I was always interested in finding out how I could inspire them to go the next step. It is about what you can provoke to make them think about something differently. The role of the teacher as facilitator has always driven me towards gifted education, toward helping people learn how to realize their potential.”
“The Robinson Center is a true jewel in the University of Washington crown and represents the UW’s commitment to excellence, outreach, and high achievement. Dr. Hertzog is an outstanding scholar, mentor and leader,” says Dr. Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
As director of the Robinson Center for Young Scholars, Hertzog will oversee the center’s daily operations and long-range vision. The Robinson Center for Young Scholars is the internationally-recognized means by which gifted students in the 7th, 8th, and 10th grades enter the University.
In the College of Education, Hertzog will serve as a faculty member in the area of Educational Psychology, both in her own focus of gifted education as well as in collaborations with other College of Education colleagues.
“The College of Education is truly fortunate to welcome Dr. Hertzog into our fold,” says College of Education Dean Patricia Wasley. “Dr. Hertzog is well known for her fabulous reputation with research and scholarly inquiry. I’ve enjoyed our conversations on her work with gifted education and can attest that our students, faculty, and staff are eager to work alongside her!”
