Alissa Cress
Clinical Assistant Professor
Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies,
Educational Studies
Email:
apsalaza@purdue.edu
Phone:
(765) 496-0868
Address:
Steven C. Beering Hall of
Liberal Arts and Education
100 N. University Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098
BRNG 3158
About
Alissa Cress is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Educational Studies, focusing on students with gifts, creativity, and talents. She formerly served as an elementary school teacher and counselor and teacher for youth programs. Her research focuses on minoritized students and students from populations underrepresented in gifted education, teacher training, and parent and society perceptions of giftedness.
Education
- Ph.D. — Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies, Purdue University (2021)
- M.S.Ed. — Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies, Purdue University (2019)
- B.A. — Elementary Education, Purdue University (2015)
Career Experience
- 2021 – 2022
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Educational Studies
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN - 2016 – 2021
Graduate Research Assistant
Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I)
Total School Cluster Grouping Research Project
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN - 2017 – 2020
Graduate Teaching Assistant
EDPS 43000: Creating and Managing Learning Environments
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN - 2016 – 2018
Co-Coordinator, Summer Residential Program
Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I) - 2017
Graduate Teaching Assistant
EDPS 23500: Learning and Motivation
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Other Teaching Experiences
- 2015 – 2016
Kindergarten Teacher, First Grade Student Teacher
New Community School, Lafayette, IN - 2013 – 2016; 2019
Teacher, Super Saturday Program (PreK-Grade 4)
Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I) - 2013 – 2016
Counselor, Summer Residential Program (Grades 5-12)
Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I) - 2012 – 2015
Counselor and Teacher, Super Summer Program (PreK-Grade 2)
Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I)
Awards & Honors
- National Association for Gifted Children – 2021 Carolyn Callahan Doctoral Student Award
- Purdue University Teaching Academy – Associate Member Appointment
- National Association for Gifted Children – 2019 Master’s and Specialist Award
- MENSA Foundation – Award for Excellence in Research – Junior Division
- Purdue University Graduate School – 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award
- Purdue University College of Education – 2019 Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
- Purdue Center for Instructional Excellence – 2019 Teaching Academy Graduate Teaching Award
Research & Publications
Research interests include: Gifted education; students with gifts, creativity, and talents, particularly from underrepresented populations in gifted education; foster care; teacher professional development; trauma-informed teaching; and parent and society perceptions of giftedness.
Selected Publications
- Gentry, M., Desmet, O. A., Karami, S., Lee, H., Green, C., Cress, A., Chowkase, A. A., & Gray, A. (2021). Gifted education’s legacy of high stakes ability testing: Using measures for identification that perpetuate inequity. Roeper Review, 43 (4), 242-255. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2021.1967545
- Gentry, M., & Cress, A. (2020). Grouping strategies for use with students with gifts and talents. In J. H. Robins, J. L. Jolly, F. A. Karnes, & S. M. Bean (Eds.), Methods and materials for teaching the gifted, 5th edition (pp. 259-277). Prufrock Press.
- Cress, A., Desmet, O., & Younker, B. (2020). Neighbors helping neighbors: A university and K-12 school partnership. Gifted Child Today, 43, 12-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/1076217519880580
- Tay, J., Salazar, A., Lee, H. (2018). Parental perceptions of STEM enrichment for young children. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 41 (1), 5-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162353217745159
[This paper received the MENSA Foundation Award for Excellence in Research – Junior Division]
Courses Typically Taught
- EDPS 24000 — Children with Gifts, Creativity, and Talents
- EDPS 24800 — Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction
- EDPS 43000 — Creating and Managing Learning Environments