Cindy Gilson has been appointed associate dean of the Honors College, effective July 1. Gilson will manage the day-to-day functions of the University Honors Program — the largest honors program on campus. She will oversee the curriculum, course offerings, programming, advising and instructional budget of the Honors College as well as work with honors program directors across campus.
Gilson, an associate professor of special education and child development, and program director of the Graduate Certificate in AIG program, has been a faculty member at UNC Charlotte since 2014. She currently is co-director of the Education Honors Program and serves as chair of the Honors Council.
“Cindy has a passionate commitment to and considerable experience with honors education, demonstrating strengths in many areas crucial to the role of associate dean,” said Malin Pereira, dean of the Honors College. “Her leadership of professional organizations and conferences — as well as in honors on our campus — has been characterized by strong organizational skills and a combination of vision and attention to detail.”
Gilson earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology with a focus on gifted education, creativity and talent development from the University of Connecticut. Her expertise centers on differentiated curriculum and instruction, enrichment, classroom discourse, teachers’ listening orientations and differentiated professional learning.
Gilson succeeds Jeffrey Leak, who has served as interim associate dean of the Honors College since August 2022.