Ann Robinson, distinguished professor of education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been honored for her dedication to serving and advocating for gifted children around the world. The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children awarded Professor Robinson the A. Harry Passow International Award for Leadership in Gifted Education during its biennial World Conference.
Recipients of this award hold international stature as a leader in gifted education. Their life and work have significantly influenced policy and practices in gifted education, or they have made other outstanding contributions in promoting the cause of gifted education worldwide.
“This is a lovely award, particularly nice for me because I happened to know A. Harry Passow personally,” Professor Robinson said. “He was a giant in the field of educational leadership. To receive an award named in his honor is amazing.”
Dr. Robinson serves as founding director of the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. It is one of only 25 centers in the nation dedicated to the development of gifted students and is also home to the university’s graduate programs in gifted and talented education. Under her leadership, the center has garnered millions of dollars in grants to help advance education in the state.
Dr. Robinson holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from the University of Wyoming. She earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.