IGC Contributors




Niki De Bondt, M.A., is a PhD student of educational sciences in the Department of Training and Education Sciences, within the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Antwerp. Her research focuses include Bayesian statistical modeling and the educational relevance of Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration. She has a special interest in statistics, (highly) gifted research, mysticism, and structuring thinking. She holds master’s degrees in economics and is a lecturer at Artesis Plantijn University College of Antwerp.


Marianne Kuzujanakis, M.D., M.P.H., is a pediatrician who holds a Master in Public Health in Clinical Effectiveness through Harvard School of Public Health, received as part of a Pediatric Health Services Research fellowship through Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kuzujanakis is co-founder of the SENG Misdiagnosis Initiative, is the chair of the SENG Professional Advisory Committee, and is a longtime homeschool educator. She is also a co-author of the recently released Misdiagnosis & Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children And Adults [2nd Edition].


Krystyna C. Laycraft, M.S., Ph.D., holds a Master of Science from the University of Warsaw and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Calgary. She is a Certified Coach Practitioner and Professional Member of Canadian Counselling of Psychotherapy Association. She brings both practical and academic knowledge to her coaching. Her expertise is based on a 30+ year career working with adolescents and adults in Poland and Canada. Krystyna delivers lectures, seminars, and workshops that include topics related to emotional needs of adolescents and adults, the role of creativity in their psychological development and the process of decision-making. She is the author of many articles and six books on emotions and psychological development: “Creativity as an Order through Emotions,” “Feeling Life. Patterns of Emotions,” “A Journey through the Lands of Feelings,” “The Courage to Decide. The Philosophies on Decision-making,” “Acceptance: The Key to a Meaningful Life,” and “Uncovering The Theory of Positive Disintegration.” For more than 10 years, Krystyna regularly attends professional conferences that address issues relating to the psychological development of young people. She is a member of the Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and Life Sciences. For more information on her work and teaching, view her website at http://krystyna-laycraft.com.


Andy Mahoney is the founder of the Center for Identity Potential and Identity Potential, Inc. He is a recognized expert and pioneer in the field of counseling the gifted and talented. His expertise spans nearly 30 years as a counselor, family therapist, and trainer of mental health professionals. Additionally, Andy has focused his emphasis on identity development to create The Fit, a software program the center utilizes in the context of counseling, career development, personal growth and business development.


Jessica Potts, Ph.D., holds a doctorate from the University of Nevada, Reno in Secondary Education, with an emphasis on gifted education and online learning. Her MA is in English Literature, with an emphasis on the English Renaissance. She has spent most of her teaching career at The Davidson Academy of Nevada, a public school for profoundly gifted students. Currently, she teaches online courses for the Davidson Academy, develops online content, and teaches graduate courses on gifted education at UNR. Her research is focused mainly on furthering the burgeoning field of online learning for gifted students. Jessica and her husband, Lloyd Potts, live in the Czech Republic with their sons.


Jennifer Harvey Sallin, MA, LLPC, NCC Jennifer Harvey Sallin, MA, LLPC, NCC is a psychologist and coach who dedicates her work to supporting the gifted and intense. She coaches and mentors highly, exceptionally and profoundly gifted individuals toward mastery, helping them to understand their unique mind and channel their uncommon potential and intensity with self-awareness and purpose. She is co-founder of Rediscovering Yourself, and founder of InterGifted.com. She lives in Fribourg, Switzerland and works with clients in person locally and by Skype internationally (in English, French and Italian).


Marisa Soto-Harrison, Ed.D. graduated with an Education Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Gifted and Talented Education from the Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences, Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver. Currently, Dr. Soto-Harrison serves as a teacher, consultant, and advocate, providing educational assessments and support to families in California, Florida and Nevada. Dr. Soto-Harrison is the co-founder of Sierra Gifted Educational Services and lives in Northern California with her family.


Willard White, Ph.D., is a teacher-trainer in gifted education, a consultant to school districts in program development and developing curricula for gifted and advanced students, a presenter at state and national conferences, and an Instructor at Florida Atlantic University. His career in education in Michigan included science teacher, teacher of gifted students, He is the author of America’s First Gifted Program: Hollingworth and the Speyer School Experiment. He and his wife Peggy, a former English teacher, live in Jupiter, Florida and they have one adult daughter, Stacey, who also is a teacher.


Clifton (“Cliff”) Wigtil, M.A., M.Sc.Ed., is a Clinical Assessment Developer at Pearson, currently working on the Wechsler ability scales.  He holds a M.A. in Psychological Sciences (clinical concentration) from James Madison University and a M.Sc.Ed. in Educational Psychology (gifted education concentration) from Purdue University.  He resides in San Antonio, Texas.