A national hub for research, innovation, and policy development in advanced education.

Ben Backes is a principal economist at AIR’s CALDER, where his research uses linked student and teacher data to examine teacher preparation, quality, and licensure policies and their effects on student outcomes. His work is widely published and cited in policy and media outlets. He is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

James Cowan is a Principal Econometrician at AIR’s CALDER. His research focuses on teaching effectiveness, teacher labor market policies, and empirical approaches to evaluating instruction, advanced education, and teacher preparation and certification. He is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

Dr. Dan Goldhaber is Director of CALDER at AIR and Director of CEDR at the University of Washington. His research focuses on K-12 educational productivity, teacher quality, and human capital policies, with work widely published in leading journals. He serves as key personnel for the Center.

Keri M. Guilbault, EdD, is a Fulbright Specialist and associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, with a joint appointment at CTY. Her research focuses on academic acceleration, gifted program leadership, and the social-emotional development of highly and profoundly gifted learners. She is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

Matthew C. Makel is Professor and Research Chair in High Abilities Studies at the University of Calgary. His research examines academic talent development, equitable gifted education, and open science practices that strengthen transparency, rigor, and reproducibility in education research. He is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

Jonathan Plucker is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Education and a nationally recognized scholar in talent development and creativity. A fellow of APA, APS, AERA, and AAAS, he is a past president of NAGC and a recipient of major national awards in psychology and gifted education. He is the principal investigator and director of the Center.

Karen E. Rambo-Hernandez is a professor at Texas A&M University whose research examines equitable access to high-quality STEM education, particularly for high-achieving students. She has led more than $25M in external funding from the NSF and U.S. Department of Education. She is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

Sneha Shah-Coltrane is Senior Director of Advanced Learning & Gifted Education and Academic Policy at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. With 30+ years in public education, she leads statewide efforts advancing policies and practices that support advanced learners. She is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

With over 20 years in education, Crystal Siniari is the Gifted and Talented Education Coordinator for the NJDOE. She oversees state act implementation and uses data analysis to improve identification practices and support for K–12 advanced learners. She is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

Sheyanne S. Smith is High Ability Learning Director at the Nebraska Department of Education and a doctoral student at William & Mary. A former teacher, her work focuses on gifted education policy, implementation, and access, with national publications, presentations, and professional service. She is a co-principal investigator for the Center.

Juliet Ray is the Senior Director of Grant Services and an Assistant Professor by courtesy at the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. She serves as Vice Chair on the Homewood Institutional Review Board and has almost 20 years of experience leading university grant administration, research integrity, and compliance. She started her career in the public K-12 education system, spending fifteen years in various positions before moving into university administration. She is a Project Manager for the Center.