December 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

Director's Corner

Crossroads

-Dr. Lin Lim, SENG President

●SENG 2023: A Year of Growth, Connection, and Impact

●2024 SENG Annual Conference Keynote Announcement:

Frank C. Worrell

●SENG APA Courses On Demand

●SENG at TAGT

Upcoming SENG Regional Conference

Director's Corner

Crossroads

By Dr. Lin Lim, SENG President

At the end of each year, I stand at the annual crossroads of my life journey looking back to re-evaluate impactful path options for the next year. This year’s crossroads exercise is extra special, as I look backward and forward through the lens of our SENG organization. Serving on this board has not only allowed me to contribute to SENG's mission but has also provided me with invaluable insights into the complexities of supporting the emotional needs of the gifted. At the end of this year, I conclude my three-year board term and prepare to transition into the role of Immediate Past President in 2024, a position that brings with it a unique perspective and responsibility. While the title may suggest a conclusion, I view my volunteer service journey with SENG as continuing in a different capacity.


Our past informs who we are in the present, while our future is full of possibilities with many options for agency. Studies demonstrate real-world impacts (e.g., developmental (1) , mental health (2-4), and behavior (5)) on variations in past (6,7), present (8), and future focus (9-10). I am speaking to you to advocate for the intentional celebration of any positive impacts/events past and present events, whilst taking a “falling forward” attitude regarding mistakes. This reflects life, dynamic and probabilistic, yet full of opportunities for agency and innovation--especially under conditions of constraints. In our rapidly changing world constrained by limited resources, SENG-- just like many organizations--needed to change and innovate to exist. 


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SENG 2023:

A Year of Growth, Connection, and Impact

SENG had a phenomenal year in 2023! From expanding programs and resources to fostering community and promoting inclusivity, SENG made significant strides in its mission to empower gifted individuals across the lifespan. Let's take a closer look at some of the highlights:


Building Bridges and Belonging:


SENG Community Groups: SENG revamped its flagship SMPG program into SENG Community Groups, creating safe and welcoming spaces for gifted individuals of all ages to connect, share experiences, and build lasting relationships. This new approach recognizes the lifelong needs of gifted individuals and celebrates their unique strengths and challenges.


We understand the evolving needs of our community and continuously work to update our training and resources to stay relevant. Be sure to check our calendar frequently for upcoming SENG Community Group trainings and events. 


Expanding Knowledge and Access:


3 New APA Offerings: In collaboration with the Gifted Development Center, SENG launched three new APA sessions, offering valuable insights and practical strategies on various topics related to giftedness. This collaboration expands access to knowledge and expertise for the SENG community. These three courses included:


  • Dyslexia and the Gifted: A Course for Psychologists
  • New Ways to Identify Twice-Exceptional Learners on the WISC-V
  • What is Giftedness?


Stay tuned for the exciting launch of SENG’s Self-Paced APA program in January 2024! The three courses listed above will be available to purchase to watch at home on your own time, and earn your APA Credits. 


Reuniting and Reaching Out:


In-Person Events Return: After a hiatus due to the pandemic, SENG brought back its popular in-person events, which included the Annual Conference in collaboration with Villanova University in Pennsylvania over the summer as well as the McKinney Regional Conference this past fall. These gatherings provided invaluable opportunities for networking, learning, and celebrating the gifted community. Watch our calendar for upcoming regional events and the Annual Conference heading to Berkeley California in the summer 2024!


DEIB Outreach Initiatives: SENG remains committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2023, we organized two impactful free outreach events:



  • Virtual Black History Month: This event explored the experiences of gifted individuals from the Black community, fostering understanding and appreciation for their unique contributions.
  • Neurodiversity Awareness Week: This hybrid event (virtual and in-person) raised awareness about neurodiversity and its impact on gifted individuals, promoting inclusivity and acceptance.


Mental Health Awareness:


May Mental Health Outreach Month: SENG partnered with other organizations to bring a variety of free mental health awareness events to the gifted community. This initiative highlighted the importance of mental well-being and encouraged open conversations about mental health challenges.


Collaboration and Partnerships:


NAGC & SENG Partnership Announced: SENG joined forces with the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) to further strengthen their collective efforts in supporting gifted individuals. This partnership signifies a commitment to collaboration and shared resources for the benefit of the gifted community.


Other SENG Partners: We also launched an opportunity for partnerships with SENG this past year. Our SENG partners provide valuable resources to our members and we look forward to continually growing our partnership programs. Stay tuned for exciting adventures with our partners in 2024!


SENG's 2023 achievements demonstrate a clear commitment to its core values: growth, connection, and impact. By expanding programs, fostering inclusivity, and collaborating with key partners, SENG continues to empower gifted individuals to reach their full potential. As we move into 2024, you can expect even more exciting initiatives and advancements!

2024 SENG Annual Conference Keynote Annoucement

SENG is thrilled to announce our Keynote Speakers to be featured at the 2024 SENG Annual Conference in Berkeley, CA on July 11th-13th: Frank C. Worrell, Ph.D!



Frank C. Worrell, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His areas of expertise include at-risk youth, cultural identities, scale development, talent development, teaching effectiveness, time perspective, and the translation of psychological research findings into practice. Author of over 300 scholarly works, Dr. Worrell is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and five divisions (5, 15, 16, 45, & 52) of the American Psychological Association (APA), and an elected member of the Society for the Study of School Psychology and the National Academy of Education. A former editor of Review of Educational Research, Dr. Worrell is a recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award from the National Association for Gifted Children (2013), the Distinguished Contributions to Research Award from Division 45 of APA (2015), the Nadine Lambert Outstanding School Psychologist Award (Region II) from the California Association of School Psychologists (2016), the Outstanding International Psychologist Award from Division 52 of APA (2018), the Palmarium Award in Gifted Education from the University of Denver (2019), the award for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession of School Psychology from the Council of Directors of School Psychology Programs (2023), and an Honorary Doctorate from Heidelberg University (2023). He was the 2022 President of the American Psychological Association.  

As we announced last month, our other 2024 SENG Annual Conference keynote speaker is Paula Prober!


Paula Prober is a licensed counselor and consultant in Eugene, Oregon, USA. She specializes in consulting with gifted adults and parents of gifted children worldwide. Over the 35+ years she's worked with the gifted, Paula has been a classroom teacher, an adjunct instructor with the University of Oregon and a guest presenter at Oregon State University and Pacific University. She has spoken on gifted adults and children at various conferences, webinars, and podcasts.


Paula has written articles on giftedness for the Eugene Register-Guard, Advanced Development journal, the Psychotherapy Networker and the Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association. She writes for online publications including Introvert Dear, Rebelle Society, Highly Sensitive Refuge, psychotherapy dot net, and Thrive Global. She blogs about gifted adults and parenting gifted children at www.rainforestmind.com and shares memes and videos about rainforest minds on Instagram. She has written three books for gifted adults and teens.





The 2024 SENG Annual Conference will be held in Berkeley, CA on

July 11th-13th!



LEARN MORE HERE

SENG APA Courses On Demand!

SENG's Popular APA Continuing Education Courses offered earlier this year will be available On Demand on the SENG website starting in January! This will allow you to complete the courses on your own schedule. APA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will also be available! The three courses that will be available in January are:

  • Dyslexia and the Gifted: A Course for Psychologists
  • New Ways to Identify Twice-Exceptional Learners on the WISC-V
  • What is Giftedness?

SENG at TAGT

SENG President Dr. Lin Lim and President-Elect Adam Laningham had a great time connecting with SENG Community Group (SCG) Facilitators at #GiftED23! Thank you TAGT!

Upcoming SENG Regional Conference

SENG Regional Conference

January 20, 2024,

8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Laguna Niguel, 29292 Crown Valley Pkwy.

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, USA


Featured Keynote Speaker Dr. Susan Baum 


Plus 8 Breakout Sessions with topics focusing on:

Giftedness 101

Social-Emotional Support

Twice Exceptional Learners

Advocacy in Gifted


CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL CONFERENCE PROGRAM

**EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES DECEMBER 30th!**

***REGULAR REGISTRATION CLOSES JANUARY 12TH!***

REGISTER NOW

SENG Community Group Facilitator Training will be offered the day before the Regional Conference virtually. You can register for that here.

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