The author believes that happiness equals success. Which is why, at age 50, the author fears retirement. The author believes that he may have found the fountain of youth for his spirit: the joy of teaching children, living in his community, and getting to witness learning. The author loves what he does. By asking he got to this point, he hopes the…

Embarking on a career in research is an exhilarating endeavor, driven by both a passion and a desire to contribute to one's field. However, for early career researchers, this journey is fraught with a unique set of challenges that can test their resolve and determination. In this article, the author identifies some common challenges and…

Ofsted's (2021) Curriculum research review for languages (OCRR) draws conclusion on what 'high-quality language education' may look like. This opinion piece problematises the status of these conclusions as 'features' or recommendations. Before delving into a selection of identified 'features' in more depth, the author highlights the complexity of…

Across the nation, troves of college students disenroll prior to graduation; students who do graduate often leave campus still searching as if something is missing, inadequate, and deficient. Indeed, something is missing and unsustainable in this malaise. Drawing on Tia Brown McNair, "et al." (2016), who call for student-ready campus…

This article addresses my professional development as a teacher and political scientist throughout the span of a 15-year career in political science. Also included are reflections on graduate education and the compatibility and necessary dual focus on both political science and teaching in the academy today as it relates to my present-day…

This article presents an interview with Dr. Kirsi Tirri, Professor of Education and Research Director in the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland. She also is a visiting Professor at St. John's University, New York, USA. Tirri served as President of the ECHA (European Council for High Ability) from…

What follows is an interview with William Damon and Anne Colby, pioneers in the fields of moral psychology and education. Throughout their careers, they have studied, moral identity, moral ideals, positive youth development, purpose, good work, vocation, character development in higher education, and professional responsibility. In their words,…

Purpose: In this paper, the author explores his research journey into the learning organization and its impact on his academic career. This paper describes how Peter Senge's book "The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organization" (1990) was the spark that led to the author's focus on empirical research in the…

Dr. Michael S. Matthews is professor and director of the Academically & Intellectually Gifted graduate programs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is incoming Coeditor of the "Gifted Child Quarterly" and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children. Dr. Matthews also currently…

This article presents an interview with Christie Henry. She joined Princeton University Press as Director in 2017, from the University of Chicago Press where she was editorial director for sciences, social sciences, and reference publishing. She is a long-term leader in the world of university publishing, and has held a number of community roles,…

Julia Link Roberts is the Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University (WKU) and the executive director of The Center for Gifted Studies and The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. Dr. Roberts is the president of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children; current past-president of The Association…

Dr. Carl Smith shares his reflections on a varied career that included many different roles and responsibilities but shared a focus on children with behavior disorders. Dr. Smith also provides insight into where he believes the field is heading and offers his advice to those just entering the field. Perhaps the lasting advice to all is to focus on…

The author believes her professional life can be divided into two parts--being a building-level school librarian and being retired, noting that few librarians she has met planned to enter the profession, and like them, she was an accidental librarian. Though trained to be a high school English teacher, she was offered a job after college as a…

Susan Albrecht's career has spanned more than 40 years. During those years she has served as an English teacher, school psychologist, behavior consultant, coordinator of services, and special education faculty member. Her contributions to the field include leadership positions with the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders. Susan shared…

Brian Kotz is Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Montgomery College. He is a former member of the American Statistical Association/American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (ASA)/(AMATYC) Joint Committee and the current chair of the AMATYC Data Science Subcommittee. This interview took place via email on November 23,…