EDUCATION
| Degree | Area of Study | University |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | Educational Psychology, concentration in Gifted and Talented Education | University of North Texas |
| M.Ed. | Secondary Education | University of North Texas |
| B.A. | Biology | University of North Texas |
Graduate Certificates
| Certificate Name |
|---|
| Teaching Online Certificate, Quality Matters |
| Texas Teacher Certificate, Life Science, Grades 8-12 |
AWARDS & HONORS
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Early Career Researcher Mini-Grant Award, Mensa Foundation |
| 2023 | Grant Writing Fellow, College of Education, The University of Alabama |
| 2022 | Early Scholar Award, National Association for Gifted Children |
| 2020 | Fifth Annual Paper of the Year, Journal for the Education of the Gifted |
| 2019 | Paper of the Year, Gifted Child Quarterly |
| 2019 | First Place Dissertation Award, Research and Evaluation Network, National Association for Gifted Children |
| 2018 | Carolyn Callahan Doctoral Student Award, National Association for Gifted Children |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Creativity in educational contexts
Access and policy issues in advanced academics
Measurement and research methods in gifted education and creativity
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Creativity, creative self-beliefs, and conceptions of creativity
Imagination and its role in the creative process
Policies and practices that shape access to advanced academic opportunities
Methodological and measurement issues in gifted education and creativity research
GRANT & RESEARCH PROJECTS
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Exploring How Families of Color Experience Advanced Learning Opportunities: A Research Practice Partnership
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Lamb, K. N., & Puryear, J. S. (2026). The role of imagination in the creative process: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, Article 1686856. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1686856
- Lamb, K. N., & Hertzog, N. B. (2026). Gifted programming for children of color: What parents want. Gifted Child Today, 49(3), 244–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/10762175261457967
- Lamb, K. N., Boedeker, P., & Kettler, T. (2025). Measuring creative self-efficacy: Instrument development and validation. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 56, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2024.101738
- Lamb, K. N., & Hertzog, N. B. (2024). Voices of families of color: Navigating white spaces in gifted education. Gifted Child Quarterly, 69(1), 49–67. https://doi.org/10.1177/00169862241281892
- Lamb, K. N., Lakin, J. M., & Jolly, J. L. (2024). Gifted education coordinators’ perceptions and experiences with equity focused practices. Journal of Advanced Academics, 36(2),175–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202X241298056
- Boedeker, P., Lamb, K. N., & Kettler, T. (2022). Simulation evaluating disproportionality-based indicators of inequitable selection practices into advanced academic programming. Gifted Child Quarterly, 66(4), 316–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/00169862221106463
- Puryear, J. S., & Lamb, K. N.(2020).Defining creativity: How far have we come since Plucker, Beghetto, and Dow? Creativity Research Journal, 32(3),206–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2020.1821552
- Lamb, K. N., Boedeker, P., & Kettler, T. (2019). Inequities of identification in gifted education: A statewide application of the twenty-percent equity allowance formula. Gifted Child Quarterly, 63(4),205–224. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0016986219830768
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Before entering higher education, Dr. Lamb taught middle and high school science. Her professional service includes editorial and peer-review work for leading journals in gifted education and creativity. She serves on the Editorial Board of Gifted Child Quarterly and previously served as Associate Editor of the Journal for the Education of the Gifted. Dr. Lamb is also actively engaged in professional leadership at the state and national levels. She has held leadership positions within the National Association for Gifted Children, including serving as Chair of the Creativity Network, and has held elected and committee roles within the American Educational Research Association. At the state level, she is the University Liaison on the Executive Council of the Alabama Association for Gifted Children and currently serves as Conference Program Co-Chair and Chair of Creativity Night.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Lamb’s teaching is grounded in a constructivist approach to learning that emphasizes student-centered, experiential, and reflective learning. She believes her primary role as an educator is to create an engaging and supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to take intellectual and creative risks, engage in open and critical dialogue, and consider multiple perspectives. She incorporates critical thinking, reflection, and metacognitive practices to help students develop as independent learners, creative thinkers, and producers of knowledge. Her experiences teaching in both K-12 and university settings have also shaped her individualized approach to teaching. She recognizes that each student brings unique experiences and needs to the learning environment, and she aims to provide the guidance and support necessary to help students grow and achieve success.
BIOGRAPHY
Kristen N. Lamb, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education at The University of Alabama. Her experiences teaching middle school science in a Title I school shaped her approach as an educator and her scholarly interests. Dr. Lamb is the co-author of Developing Creativity in the Classroom: Learning and Innovation for 21st-Century Schools and has published widely in journals and edited volumes focused on creativity, imagination, gifted education, and talent development. Dr. Lamb’s work ultimately seeks to better understand how schools can recognize creative and academic potential, expand opportunities for advanced learning, and foster creativity and imaginative thinking in the development of talent.