Colleen Willard-Holt, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University, received her Ph. D. in Educational Psychology from Purdue University. Prior to earning her Ph.D., Dr. Willard-Holt taught high school special education, high school mathematics, and gifted education K-12.

At the university level, she has taught courses in general teaching methods, educational psychology, assessment, educational research, brain research, gifted education, and special education. Her areas of research include gifted children with disabilities, implications of neuroscience research for classroom teachers, multiple intelligences, international experiences for teachers, and preservice teacher education.

She has published in the fields of gifted education, multiple intelligences and general teacher education, and has addressed regional, national, and international audiences on those topics.