Conference Faculty

Scott L. Hunsaker

Dr. Scott L. Hunsaker is an Associate Professor of Educational Foundations and Gifted and Talented Education in the Department of Elementary Education at Utah State University (USU).  He is an active leader in the gifted education movement nationally and locally, having served on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and as President of the Utah Association for Gifted Children.  He has been honored by both organizations for his leadership—with the Early Leader Award from NAGC in 1991 and the Jewel Bindrup Award from UAGC in 2006.  A committed teacher his entire career, he taught in public school classrooms for 8½ years prior to becoming Coordinator of Gifted Education in Alpine School District, UT.  He taught at the University of Virginia (where he earned his Ph.D.) and the University of Georgia prior to coming to USU.  At USU, the College of Education and Human Services has been recognized him as Teacher of the Year (2002) and as Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year (2005).  Scott is also a baritone with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  He and his wife, Becky, are the parents of three children, who, if you were to ask, would tell you that what their father most likes to do in his spare time is to sing and to read.

Dr. Don Treffinger
Keynote Presenter on Monday, June 14 and Tuesday, June 15

Dr. Don Treffinger is President of the Center for Creative Learning and Editor of Parenting for High Potential magazine. An internationally-known researcher and teacher, he has authored or co-authored numerous books, monographs, and articles. He has served as director of the graduate program of the Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College, NY. He received the National Association for Gifted Children’s Distinguished Service Award and the E. Paul Torrance Creativity Award. Dr. Treffinger has served as editor of Gifted Child Quarterly. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Parenting for High Potential, NAGC’s quarterly magazine for parents. Dr. Treffinger has taught at the elementary and junior high school level, as well as at the University level. Dr. Treffinger has been a popular speaker, consultant, and workshop leader, having made presentations or conducted programs throughout the United States, Canada, and in Singapore and several other countries outside North America.

Dr. Treffinger will present on Monday and Tuesday about the application of Creative Problem Solving in various school settings.

Dr. Jane Piirto
Keynote Presenter on Wednesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 17

Dr. Piirto is a Trustees’ Professor at Ashland University in Ohio. She is the Director of Talent Development Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and she teaches qualitative research in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership. She publishes in both the literary and scholarly arenas. Her books include The Three-Week Trance Diet, Understanding Those Who Create, “My Teaming Brain”: Understanding Creative Writers, and her new book, Understanding Creativity. Her scholarly articles include topics in gifted and talented education and in qualitative research. She speaks and consults nationally and internationally, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Nat ional Association for Gifted Children.

Dr. Piirto will present on Wednesday and Thursday about the relationship between talent development and creativity.

Mark and Caralyn Buehner
Keynote Presenter on Wednesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 17

Mark Buehner was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was the youngest of seven children. He used to draw pictures, then staple them together to make little books-but had no idea that what he was doing would eventually become his line of work. After he graduated from Utah State University, his wife, Caralyn, and he moved to New York City, where they lived for four and a half years. It was in New York that he got the chance to illustrate his first children’s book, The Adventures of Taxi Dog, by Debra and Sal Barracca, and other books soon followed. Illustrating children’s books lets Mark bring out some of the “What if’s” in his imagination, and to explore different areas with his art. His goal is to be able to entertain both children and adults. Mark Buehner continues to live a storybook life in Salt Lake City, Utah, with Caralyn, with whom he has collaborated on seven books, seven children, and his brighter-than-average dog Carmy.

The Buehner’s will present on Friday about the role of creativity in their work as children’s book authors.