Jilliane McCardle

Jilliane McCardle serves as Assistant Professor at Eastern Kentucky University, specializing in transformative approaches to gifted education and inclusive K-12 learning environments. Her work bridges research and classroom practice with particular focus on underserved gifted populations.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from University of Houston
• M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of St. Thomas
• B.S. in Elementary Education from McNeese State University

Dr. McCardle's research pioneers affirming spaces for twice-exceptional learners through arts integration, while revolutionizing science literacy via graphic novel pedagogy. Her Gifted Identification Practices framework challenges traditional assessment models, and her Arts-Based Programming research creates vital pathways for neurodiverse gifted students. Current work examines university-high school research mentorship dynamics, signaling expansion into collaborative STEM education models.

Professional engagement includes:

• Board Member, Kentucky Association for Gifted Education (KAGE)
• Active Member, National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
• Reviewer for Teaching for High Potential and Science Scope journals

Her advising emphasizes practitioner-scholar development through K-12 partnerships and statewide policy engagement via KAGE. Recent publications demonstrate consistent productivity in high-impact gifted education journals with practical classroom applications, particularly in arts-science integration for diverse learners.