Webinars

The Belin-Blank Center's webinars are designed to engage educators with relevant information and ideas in serving the needs of advanced learners in a convenient setting. These experiences will use the webinar format, utilizing video conferencing for participation. Instructions for connecting will be sent upon registering.

Upcoming Webinars

Addressing Social and Emotional Needs Through Expertise & Resources

September 23, 2026
4:00PM CST
Cost: free

Rural teachers who work with advanced learners can feel isolated as they are a "silo" in their school as they strive to meet academic, social, and emotional needs. The Belin-Blank Center wants to help you. This webinar will spotlight information and ideas to address the social and emotional needs of students and adults. Participants will be able to hear about the work from three experts at three University of Iowa. Time for Q & A with the presenters will be included. A list of additional resources will be shared. The presentation section of the webinar will be recorded. Participants who attend "live" on 9/23 will receive slides from the webinar. Come learn with us!

Presenters

Belin-Blank Assessment and Counseling Clinic

Scanlan Center for School Mental Health

College of Education Rural Psychology Collaborative

Rural Webinar Series

Bridging Distances: Cultivating Mental Health Support for Rural Advanced Learners

February 26, 2026
4PM CST
Cost: free

This webinar explores the unique social, emotional, and mental health needs of advanced learners in rural communities. This 30-minute session highlights systemic barriers to care, the impact of geographic isolation, and strategies to support student well-being. Attendees will gain strategies to foster connection, community, and better support the needs of rural advanced learners.

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Presenter

Aubrey McEnroe is a doctoral candidate from the University of Iowa’s Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program, with research and clinical interests in rural psychology. Particularly, she is interested in the mental health needs of rural communities and women in agriculture. Clinically, she has trained and provided mental health services to rural, underinsured, or uninsured Iowans, as well as other marginalized communities throughout the state. Through the University of Iowa’s Project H.O.P.E., she has volunteered in rural Iowa middle schools supporting career exploration, received specialized training on the mental health needs of medically underserved rural communities through an HRSA fellowship, and has engaged in state-level advocacy, meeting with state legislators regarding the mental health needs of rural communities in Iowa. Raised in a rural, agricultural community in North Central Iowa, Aubrey remains closely connected to her roots and plans to return to her community to provide mental health services upon completing her doctorate.

Rooted in Place: Identifying and Supporting Gifted Learners in Rural High Schools

April 2025
Cost: free

Rural gifted students often go unrecognized due to geographic, cultural, and systemic barriers. This 30-minute session equips rural educators with key strategies for identifying and supporting advanced learners using locally responsive, low-cost, and practical solutions. The session highlights real-world challenges and actionable steps, empowering teachers to better serve gifted students in their communities.

We will have about 30 minutes of presentation by Dr. Chandler and then time for questions. The webinar should conclude no later than 4:45PM CST. The recording will be sent to anyone who registers.

Watch Now!

Presenter

Dr. Kimberly Chandler Dr. Kimberley Chandler is the Director of Curriculum at the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University, where she provides strategic oversight of the curriculum across in-person and online modalities. Her professional background includes teaching gifted students in a variety of settings, serving as an administrator of school district gifted programs, and providing professional development training for teachers and administrators.

Kimberley is the co-editor (with Jaime Castellano) of the 2022 book Identifying and Serving Diverse Gifted Learners: Meeting the Needs of Special Populations in Gifted Education. She has also served as the editor and contributing author of many curriculum materials from the Center for Gifted Education at William and Mary. She has served as Guest Editor of Journal for the Education of the Gifted (JEG) for special issues focusing on international issues in gifted education and learning resources.