Prior to this appointment, Dr. Stephens served as the gifted education research specialist for the Duke University Talent Identification Program. She is the co-author of numerous books and co-editor of the Practical Strategies Series in Gifted Education (Prufrock Press), a series comprised of over 30 books on issues pertinent to gifted child education. Dr. Stephens has served on the board of directors for the National Association for Gifted Children and is past-president of the North Carolina Association for Gifted and Talented. She also serves on the board of directors for the American Association for Gifted Children.