Address:
Steven C. Beering Hall of
Liberal Arts and Education
100 N. University Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098
BRNG 3160

Links:

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Kristen Seward

Clinical Associate Professor in Educational Studies/Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies; Associate Director and Youth Programs Director, Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute; Graduate Certification and Licensure Advisor

Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies,
Educational Studies

Email:
ksseward@purdue.edu

Phone:
(765) 494-7252

Address:
Steven C. Beering Hall of
Liberal Arts and Education
100 N. University Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098
BRNG 3160

Links:

Profile

A proponent of gifted education for developing all students’ strengths since starting her teaching career in 1987, Dr. Kristen Seward was inspired by Dr. John Feldhusen, founder of Purdue University’s Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute (GER2I). After teaching middle and high school English in self-contained gifted and mixed ability classrooms, Kristen earned her master’s in school counseling, and for the majority of her 17 ½ years in public schools, she counseled middle and high school students. Returning to her love of teaching and fulfilling her dream of teaching teachers, Kristen completed her Ph.D. in 2017 under the advisement of Dr. Marcia Gentry. Kristen continues at Purdue as a clinical associate professor in Educational Studies, associate director of GER2I, certification and licensure adviser and program coordinator, and GER2I ‘s youth program director. Since 2015, she has received over $7.6 million dollars in grant and fellowship funds, authored or co-authored five refereed articles and six book chapters, and led over 50 refereed presentations to national and international audiences on four continents. Kristen has held leadership positions in state and national gifted education associations and volunteers to review articles for nine professional journals in rural and gifted education. At Purdue, she received the 2025 Clinical Faculty Award for Engagement in the Department of Educational Studies and the 2023 Seed for Success Acorn Award from Purdue’s Office of Research for first $1,000,000+ grants, and in 2021, she was selected to participate in the Scholarship of Engagement Fellows Program and the IMPACT Faculty Fellow Program.

Research & Publications

Dr. Seward's research interests include the following areas:

Professional development in talent development identification and programming
The use of gifted pedagogy to improve teacher preparation and skills in differentiation
Talent development in underserved populations, including students in rural areas
Guidance and counseling gifted students, including career development

+ Selected Publications

Smith, S., Robinson, A., & Seward, K. (2024). Pathways to talent: Gifted, creative, and talented education for preservice teachers. Multi Colors: An International Journal of Educational Research and Theory, 3(1). 79-91. Special issue on teaching highly able students. https://en.gordon.ac.il/Uploads/media/Files/7-Pathways%20(Sheyanne,%20Ann,%20Kristen%20(1).pdf
Seward, K., & Akce, B. (2023). Creating an intercultural peace education course online with devised theatre for high-ability teenagers of different backgrounds and world regions. In C. Carter & R. K. Dhungana (Eds.). Educating for Peace Through Countering Violence: Curriculum and Instruction. Routledge Research in International and Comparative Education Book Series. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003383468-6
Arnstein, K. B., Desmet, O. A., Seward, K., Traynor, A., & Olenchak, F. R. (2023). Underrepresented students in gifted and talented education: Using positive psychology to identify and serve. Education Sciences, 13(9), 955. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13090955
Seward, K., & Gentry, M. (2022). Students with gifts, creativity, and talents from low-income families. In J. L. Roberts, T. F. Inman, & J. H. Robins (Eds.), Introduction to Gifted Education (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Lee, H., Seward, K., & Gentry, M. (2022). Equitable identification of underrepresented gifted students: The relationship between students’ academic achievement and a teacher-rating scale. Journal of Advanced Academics, 33(3), 400-432. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202X221088816
Seward, K., & Gentry, M. (2021). Protocols for identification: Increasing equity for underrepresented groups. In J. Nyberg & J. Mazone (Eds.). Creating equitable services for the gifted: Protocols for identification, implementation, and evaluation. IGI Global. https://www.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-8153-7.ch001
Seward, K., & Gaesser, A. H. (2018). Career decision making with gifted rural students: Considerations for school counselors and teachers. Gifted Child Today, 41(4), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/1076217518786986
Gentry, M., & Seward, K. (2018). Gifted students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. In J. L. Roberts, T. F. Inman, & J. H. Robins (Eds.), Introduction to Gifted Education (pp. 353-368). Prufrock Press.
Paul, K. A., & Seward, K. (2016). Place-based investment model of talent development: A proposed model for developing and reinvesting talents within the community. Journal of Advanced Academics, 27(4), 311-342. https://www.doi.org/10.1177/1932202X16669546
Seward, K., & Gentry, M. (2015). Grouping and instructional management strategies for rural gifted students. In T. Stambaugh & S. M. Wood (Eds.). Serving gifted students in rural settings (pp. 111-135). Prufrock Press.

+ Current Grants & Funded Research

Courses Typically Taught

EDPS 54000 Introduction to Gifted Children
EDPS 55500 Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction
EDPS 54500 Social & Affective Development of Gifted Children
EDPS 54200 Curriculum and Program Planning in Gifted Education
EDPS 69500 Practicum in Gifted Education

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Kristen Seward

Profile

+ Education

+ Career Experience

+ Awards & Honors

+ Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Research & Publications

+ Selected Publications

+ Current Grants & Funded Research

Courses Typically Taught

Kristen Seward

Profile

+ Education

+ Career Experience

+ Awards & Honors

+ Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Research & Publications

+ Selected Publications

+ Current Grants & Funded Research

Courses Typically Taught

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