Kimberly Lansdowne

Dr. Lansdowne is the founding Executive Director of the Herberger Young Scholars Academy, an innovative secondary school for highly gifted students at Arizona State University. The Academy is renowned for its cutting-edge approach to teaching and learning, serving globally minded and academically advanced students in a high-tech educational environment.

She earned her doctorate from Arizona State University (ASU) in 2008 and has built an extensive career in teaching and educational leadership across universities, colleges, and both public and private K–12 schools. Since 2004, she has served on the faculty of ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton College, where she designs and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and special education. From 2000 to 2010, she was the Director of Gifted Services for the Scottsdale Unified School District, overseeing multiple programs and leading a team of more than 40 faculty and staff members.

As a scholar, Kimberly has authored books, contributed chapters to edited volumes, and published articles. Her work has also been highlighted in various media outlets, particularly in connection to her leadership at the Herberger Academy. Her research interests span a wide range of topics, including the design and impact of educational programs from preschool through college; differentiated instruction for high-ability learners; the role of technology in cultivating 21st-century skills; the identification and support of giftedness in underserved populations; and best practices in teacher preparation and professional development.

Her outstanding contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2025 Sylvia Rimm Champion of Gifted Education and Children Award from the Wisconsin Association of the Talented and Gifted, the 2023 Dr. Sanford J. Cohn Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2014 Administrator of the Year Award from the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented. Beyond these accolades, Kimberly has provided leadership at the local, national, and international levels, serving with the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented (2000–2008), the Diversity and Equity Committee of the National Association for Gifted Children (2003–2015), the Advisory Board for the Center for Talented Youth in Ireland (2014–2024), and currently with the Herberger Young Scholars Academy (2024–present).