Jenna Nelson

Dr. Jenna Nelson serves as Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Assistant Division Chair for the Division of Curriculum, Technology, and Inclusive Education at Concordia University Chicago's College of Education, where she has been faculty since 2018.

Her educational background includes:

• EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University Chicago
• EdM in Curriculum and Teaching from Boston University
• BA in English & Secondary Education from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Her research centers on curriculum and teaching practices for diverse learners in gifted and talented education, with specific expertise in secondary English education and literacy instruction. She teaches graduate courses on curriculum design, instructional best practices, and gifted education methodologies.

Her 2018-2020 publications reveal strong thematic focus on holistic gifted education, literacy development for adolescent readers, and field-based teacher preparation. Key trends include pandemic-responsive curriculum adaptation, dual-language gifted classroom strategies, and evidence-based professional development models.

Dr. Nelson actively presents at major education conferences including AERA and World Council of Gifted Children, with recent work examining Spanish-to-English language arts transfer in gifted education and supporting Latina learners in dual-language programs.