Scholarly Interests

Doctoral program

I am currently enrolled in a PhD program at the College of Education, Purdue University, where I focus on gifted education. Through this program, I hope to deepen my understanding of the academic and social challenges faced by gifted students, particularly in relation to motivation, multilingualism, and educational technology. I aim to use this knowledge to advocate for high-ability students and contribute to the development of more inclusive practices for identifying and supporting gifted learners, especially those from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Intellectual history

My thinking on gifted education has been significantly influenced by the work of Joseph Renzulli and Del Siegle. Renzulli’s Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness has shaped my understanding of how giftedness is more than just high academic performance, encompassing creativity and task commitment as well. This broadened perspective helps me advocate for more diverse identification criteria that consider a student's potential beyond traditional metrics.

 

Del Siegle’s work on motivation and underachievement in gifted students has also impacted my research interests. His focus on the psychological and environmental factors influencing gifted learners has led me to explore how motivation and academic challenges intersect for gifted students, especially those who are bilingual or come from underrepresented backgrounds. These frameworks have guided my current interests in finding ways to better support high-ability students in both identification and education.

Research interests

I am particularly interested in researching the motivation and academic challenges faced by gifted students, especially those from multilingual, culturally diverse, and low-income backgrounds. A specific question I would like to address is how gifted identification and support systems can be made more inclusive for bilingual and low-income students, who are often overlooked due to language barriers and socioeconomic factors. Additionally, I’m keen to explore how educational technology can be leveraged to support the unique learning needs of these gifted students, fostering their motivation and engagement in both traditional and online learning environments.

 

I already know that gifted students from multilingual and low-income backgrounds face unique challenges in being identified and supported due to biases in traditional assessment methods and a lack of resources. Research shows that these students are often underrepresented in gifted programs because standardized tests may not accurately reflect their abilities, particularly when language proficiency or socioeconomic factors affect performance.

 

What I would like to learn is how specific interventions, such as culturally responsive identification processes and tailored educational technologies, can better serve these students. I am also interested in understanding how motivation is influenced by these students’ cultural and socioeconomic contexts and how schools can create environments that support their academic growth, engagement, and sense of belonging.

My research interests focus on the motivation and academic challenges of gifted students from multilingual, culturally diverse, and low-income backgrounds, with an emphasis on developing more inclusive identification processes and exploring how educational technology can enhance their learning experiences.

Professional goals

At this point, I am interested in exploring career options outside of academia, particularly in areas like curriculum design, educational technology, or program evaluation. I would like to work in environments where I can apply my research to create innovative educational solutions for diverse learners, especially in organizations or agencies that focus on supporting gifted and multilingual students. This would allow me to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring that educational programs are inclusive and effective in real-world settings.

ResearchGate