Dr. Myra Garces-Bacsal has served as an educator for over 25 years and has led several research projects on the links between reading and social emotional learning, diverse picturebooks and teacher practices, psychology of high creatives and exceptional people, and culturally responsive and inclusive education. She currently serves as Associate Professor with the Special and Gifted Education Department and served as Assistant Dean for Research & Graduate Studies for the College of Education, UAE University from 2020-2025 where she spearheaded the development of a Dual Master of Education Program between UAEU and Education University of Hong Kong, and the Master’s in Gifted and Talented Education with College of William and Mary as University Affiliate partner.

She led two collaborative research projects with University College London on diverse picturebooks and culturally responsive, inclusive and sustaining pedagogies among teachers/leaders in the UAE. Myra served as a Chief Judge for the World Giftedness Center Award in 2025/2026 for the Applied Research Global Award of Talented Education and the School Global Award Initiative of Talented Education, and jury member for both awards in 2023/2024. Myra is a Nominated Member of the UNESCO Chair for Child Maltreatment in 2024, a Recipient of the College Excellence Award for Service in 2023, College Excellence Award for Scholarship in 2022, and a University Achievement Award in Research in 2022.

Myra was the Chairperson of the Programme Committee for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore from 2012 to 2019 and still continues to serve as an International Advisor at Large. Her love for books is evident through her website, GatheringBooks.org – followed by over 200 countries since 2010. She is a quintessential lover and creator of booklists (as evidenced in her Social and Emotional Learning bookshelf shared in her website). Myra enjoys organizing international events where fellow nerds converge and attempt to joyfully change the world.