Wait here, she said, I’ll be right back.
It was her first promise to me;
A small one, yes, but
She gave it, kept it; left and returned.
I smiled watching her saunter away,
Grinned as she seemed to gravitate back.
She gave me five more,
Each like the first, a tiny sparkling word
Brought to life in the keeping,
Planting in me a seed of hope,
Cast on rocky soil, but each took,
This one and the next one too,
And soon I hoped, and still I hope.
Since then she has surely placed
A million more, back to back,
Giving them first, then keeping them,
Until I wonder now whose hope this is:
Mine, because she gave it to me
Or in the keeping still hers?
~Gary Witt
Two years ago, as president-elect, I spent much time reflecting on how I might best serve SENG. I laid out what became my vision for transforming SENG’s legacy during my 2020-2022 presidency and outlined four major goals framed within existing programming and new opportunities for growth to ensure preservation, sustainability, and expansion of SENG’s mission and vision.
Two years later, here I am, as your outgoing president, reflecting on promises kept, and again thinking how I might best serve SENG as immediate past president with promises of tomorrow.
Promises Made and Promises Kept
- The strategic expansion of our existing board of directors with the selection of four new directors over the next several months.
Over the course of two years, we have added ten new directors, maximizing our number of director seats with champions inspired to lead efforts toward our transforming legacy goal. Each of these ten directors continues to serve SENG with a retention rate of 100%. Together, we completed a five year strategic plan outlining goals for the board through 2025.
- Formalize a collegiate student co-operative intern program with an extensive mentoring component.
We supported undergraduate interns who earned income and collegiate credit for service to SENG; one, Trent Cash, began a doctoral program and remained as our first doctoral fellow, joined later by Nicole Mattingly to create opportunities integrating academic study and service.
- Re-engage our Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) with specific transformational responsibilities.
Dr. Ed Amend rejoined as PAC chairperson and non-voting advisory board representative, bringing historical value to grassroots efforts. He was joined by Lifetime Achievement Winner Dr. Joy Lawson.
- Increase our organizational depth chart with “champions” who guide programming direction.
New members identify committees of interest; directors chair or co-chair committees, serving as mentors and building capacity for member engagement.
- Lead the Gifted Community in Unparalleled Outreach
- Broaden SENG’s Scholarship & Editorial Position
- Transition our Champion-based Leadership Model
- Develop Socio-Emotional Standards to Guide Educational Practices
Of these goals, we have made significant progress aligned with the five-year strategic plan. We appointed a co-president model and an international council chair for global affiliate growth. In an independent survey by the National Association for Gifted Children, SENG was listed as #1 organization (among top 5) that stakeholders turn to for gifted-related information. SENG’s Diversity Committee expanded its aims and partnered with top gifted scholars of color (IURGGE) to present a two-day SENGinar that raised over $8,000 for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a presidential goal, SENG partnered with William & Mary to introduce its research journal, SENGJ: SENG Journal: Exploring the Psychology of Giftedness, debuting March 2022 as SENG’s official scholarly publication. The journal will publish empirical articles, reviews, theoretical explorations, and interviews, and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is open access. See the journal Aims and Scope and About This Journal for details.
I am proud of the foundation SENG has established for service to the gifted community and of the transformed legacy over the past two years. I am confident in the remaining leadership and their forward-thinking vision and look forward to promises of tomorrow as members continue to transform SENG’s legacy.
Promises of Tomorrow
Two years from now, I anticipate serving SENG as Immediate Past President, supporting incoming President Alonzo Kelly, and initiating a personal “passion project” to develop a series of SENG-published reference books and programming handbooks to solidify SENG’s role as an innovative leader meeting gifted individuals’ needs.
So this is not goodbye; I’ll be right back with a promise to continue to plant seeds of hope.
Yours in Service,
Kristina Henry Collins
Kristina Henry Collins, Ph.D.
Outgoing President (2020-2022)
Immediate Past President (2022-2024)
