Barbara Alane Kerr

Barbara Alane Kerr is the Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Kansas, holding an endowed chair. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and has held leadership roles in institutions such as the Belin-Blank National Center for Gifted and Talented and the National Science Foundation (NSF) projects for at-risk girls in STEM. She co-founded the Lawrence Creates Makerspace and directs the Counseling Laboratory for the Exploration of Optimal States (CLEOS), a research-through-service program for creative adolescents.

Education:

• M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Ohio State University
• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri

Her research focuses on talent development, creativity, and optimal states, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. She explores the intersection of abilities, personality, environment, and privilege, validating assessments of creativity and gender relations. Her work includes over 100 articles, chapters, and books, such as Smart Girls and Smart Boys, and she co-edited the Encyclopedia of Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development. She also writes blogs on creativity for platforms like Scientific American and EdWeek, reaching 2,200 followers.

Awards & Honors:

• E. Paul Torrance Award for Creativity Research (2013 - 2014)
• Benjamin Franklin Silver Medal for Education Book (2015 - 2016)
• School of Education Service Award (2016 - 2017)

Teaching & Advising: Teaches graduate courses in counseling psychology, including positive psychology, multicultural counseling, and advanced practicum. Advises 4 master’s and 9 doctoral students annually. Co-created the Advanced Counseling Skills course integrating clinical practice, research, and supervision. Despite challenges in securing major grants, she continues to pursue funding and mentorship initiatives.

Labs & Collaborations: Leads the CLEOS lab at KU and co-founded the Center for Creativity and Entrepreneurship in Education with Yong Zhou. Her work with the Lawrence Creates Makerspace, a community of engineers, artists, and entrepreneurs, earned recognition from Make magazine and inspired doctoral dissertations. She collaborates with electronics experts to develop tools for studying creative 'flow states' via EEG technology.