Susan Assouline has been named the new director of the University of Iowa College of Education's Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Assouline, UI professor of psychological and quantitative foundations, has served as the Belin-Blank Center associate director since 1990. She will replace Nicholas Colangelo, who founded the center in 1988 and has served as the center director since its inception. Colangelo is stepping down and will continue in his role as the UI College of Education Myron & Jacqueline Blank Professor of Gifted Education for one year before retiring.

"I am thrilled that the Belin-Blank Center will continue to have leadership that is so steadfastly devoted to assisting students worldwide to achieve their potential," says UI College of Education Dean Margaret Crocco. "Susan Assouline will do an outstanding job of building on the strong foundation Nick and others have built over the years and will bring her vision and expertise to the advancement and advocacy of gifted education and talent development teaching, research, and service."

Colangelo echoes Crocco's accolades, crediting Assouline for her strong leadership as associate director as well as her contributions to the field of gifted education over the past two and one-half decades.

"Susan has been critical to the center for the past 20 years," Colangelo says. "She is fully prepared and dedicated to direct the center. The center will be in the hands of a talented and caring person who is a true professional."

Assouline is an expert in the cognitive development of gifted students, mathematically talented students, academic acceleration, and twice exceptionality (students who are both gifted and have a disability.) She has published widely in these areas and is also a member of the Iowa Talented and Gifted Association, the National Association for Gifted Children, and the National Association of School Psychologists.

"For nearly a quarter of a century, I’ve had the privilege of conducting research, developing and teaching courses in giftedness, and developing and implementing programs and services at the Belin-Blank Center," Assouline says. "In collaboration with Nick, as well as with center and College of Education colleagues, we have worked to empower and serve thousands of gifted children, their parents, and their educators. I am humbled and am honored to have the opportunity to take the center forward. "

The Belin-Blank Center has established a national and international reputation for its research, training, and service. For more information, visit www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/.