Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli
Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology, Neag School of Education
University of Connecticut (UConn)

Dr. Joseph S. Renzulli is a professor of educational psychology at UConn, where he holds an endowed position as the Neag Chair of Gifted Education and Talent Development and serves as director of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.  His research has focused on the identification and development of creativity and giftedness in young people, and on organizational models and curricular strategies for differentiated learning environments that contribute to total school improvement. 

Renzulli is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, a former president of the Association for the Gifted, and has served on the editorial boards of Learning Magazine, the Journal of Law and Education, Exceptionality, and most of the national and international journals dealing with gifted education.  He was a consultant to the White House Task Force on Education of the Gifted and Talented, and has worked with numerous schools and ministries of education throughout the U. S. and abroad.  His most recent work is a computer-based assessment of student interests, learning styles, academic strengths and preferred modes of expression, which is integrated with an Internet based search engine that matches enrichment activities and high-engagement resources with individual student profiles www.renzullilearning.com

In 2009, Renzulli was among the first to be designated as a fellow of the American Educational Research Association. The American Psychological Association's Monitor on Psychology named Renzulli among the 25 most influential psychologists in the world, and he was one of the first to receive UConn’s highest honor, the designation as a distinguished professor. He lists as his proudest professional accomplishment being the founder of Confratute, the longest running professional development program of its kind.

His most recent books include the second editions of The Schoolwide Enrichment Model and Enriching Curriculum for All Student, The Multiple Menu Model for Developing Differentiated Curriculum, The Parallel Curriculum Model, and Light Up Your Child's Mind. His 1978 article “What Makes Giftedness” has been cited as the most frequently referenced article in the field.  Renzulli is the author of more than 380 articles in professional journals, books, chapters in books and numerous technical reports.

Renzulli received a B.A. from Glassboro State College in New Jersey, a M.Ed. from Rutgers University and his Ed.D. from the University of Virginia. He also holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.