WKU News

Dr. Julia L. Roberts, Professor of Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University (WKU), has been named one of 10 recipients of the prestigious 2025 Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award. Dr. Roberts also serves as the Founding Director of The Center for Gifted Studies and Executive Director of The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky.

The Conference USA Faculty Achievement Awards honor exceptional faculty members for their excellence in teaching, commitment to research and scholarship, and service to their campus communities. Established by the league’s presidents and chancellors, the awards program highlights the impact of faculty across the conference’s member institutions. Each recipient will also serve as their institution’s nominee for the CUSA Professor of the Year award, which will be selected by the provosts of each member university.

A nationally and internationally recognized leader in gifted education, Dr. Roberts has dedicated her career to advancing services and opportunities for gifted students. Under her leadership, WKU has become a destination for gifted education through graduate programs, student enrichment opportunities, and professional learning for educators. As the founding director of The Center for Gifted Studies, Dr. Roberts has played a pivotal role in shaping gifted education policy and practice across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Through her leadership, WKU is now home to the international headquarters of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education. As Executive Director of The Gatton Academy, Dr. Roberts has overseen the school’s rise to national prominence, including being named the top public high school in the nation by Newsweek for three consecutive years.

Dr. Roberts’ scholarly contributions include seven books, numerous journal articles and book chapters, and more than $10 million in grant funding. Internationally, she served on the Executive Committee of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children for 13 years, including terms as treasurer and president.

The 2025 Faculty Achievement Award recipients represent a broad range of academic disciplines—including biology, communication, data science, ecology and epidemiology—and are recognized for their leadership, innovation and contributions to their respective fields.

Read more about the 2025 Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award winners.