Frances A. Karnes, Ph.D., is professor of curriculum, instruction, and special education at The University of Southern Mississippi. She is widely known for her teaching, research, publications, innovative program developments, and service activities in gifted education and leadership training. Tracy Riley, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in gifted and talented education at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

A former teacher of gifted students, she publishes and presents internationally. Tracy is actively involved with many gifted and talented initiatives in New Zealand, including serving as coeditor of APEX: The New Zealand Journal of Gifted Education and serving on several Ministry of Education advisory groups.