Miraca Una Murdoch Gross
1944-2022
The International Gifted Consortium (IGC), Research Center for The Highly-Profoundly Gifted sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Miraca U.M. Gross, Ph.D.
On January 28, 2022, the world lost a caring friend, a pioneer in gifted education, a force, and a voice, for highly—profoundly gifted children and adolescents, a role-model for educators, and a support figure for parents. Miraca U.M. Gross, Emeritus Professor of Gifted Education and Honorary Director of University of New South Wales, Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Center (GERRIC) in Sydney, Australia and Co-Founder of The (IGC), Research Center for The Highly—Profoundly Gifted will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
Miraca held M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees in gifted education. The first 20 years of her career was as a teacher and school vice-principal in elementary and middle schools in Scotland (where she was born and raised) and Australia. Miraca’s research focused on the issues of equity in gifted students, ability grouping, acceleration, socio-affective development and the highly gifted.
Miraca’s countless contributions included Small poppies: Highly gifted children in the early years and her 20-year study of highly and profoundly gifted children documented in her book, Exceptionally Gifted Children.
The International Gifted Consortium (IGC), Research Center for The Highly—Profoundly Gifted honors Miraca U.M. Gross.
Miraca U.M. Gross, Co-Founder of The International Gifted Consortium, is Emeritus Professor and Honorary Director of University of New South Wales, Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Center (GERRIC). She is recognized nationally and internationally as a leading authority on the education of gifted and talented students.
Miraca holds MEd and PhD degrees in gifted education. The first 20 years of her career were as a teacher and school vice-principal in elementary and middle schools in Scotland (where she was born and raised) and Australia. Miraca’s research focuses on issues of equity for gifted students, ability grouping, acceleration, socio-affective development and the highly gifted.
She has received several international research awards including the Hollingworth Award for Excellence in Research in Gifted Education and the Mensa International Education and Research Foundation Award for Excellence (1988 and 1990) in addition to its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Miraca Gross’ prestigious awards and honors include:
- The American National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), Early Scholar Award, 1995
- The American National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), Distinguished Scholar Award, 2005 (the first time this was awarded outside North America)
- University of New South Wales Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1995
- Australian Federal Government Inaugural Australian Award for University Teaching Education, 1997
- Australian College of Educators Sir Harold Wyndham Medal for outstanding contributions to Australian education
- Queen’s Birthday Honours List with membership in the Order of Australia
1944-2022