Pioneer of Gifted Education Dr. Frances Karnes Leaves Lasting Impact
Mon, 08/25/2025 - 04:05pm | By: Dr. David Tisdale
Dr. Frances Karnes鈥� decades of advocacy, innovation and mentorship transformed gifted education, shaping how educators, policymakers and communities support students with exceptional abilities. Her influence extends from Mississippi to classrooms and policy initiatives across the nation and around the world.
Karnes, distinguished university professor emeritus at The University of Southern Mississippi and founding director of its Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was 87.
Programs and Policy Influence
For more than 40 years, the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at Southern Miss has been an internationally recognized leader in gifted education research, outreach, advocacy, and curriculum and policy development. Thousands of students with exceptional abilities have participated in the center鈥檚 Leadership, Saturday Gifted Studies, Summer Gifted Studies and Summer Academically Talented Youth programs, which provide enrichment and accelerated courses taught by expert instructors from diverse professional backgrounds.
Founded by Dr. Karnes in 1979 and named for her in 1999, the center also supports teachers of the gifted and their families. Under Karnes鈥� leadership, the center influenced public policy in Mississippi and nationally, leading to improvements in curriculum and funding for gifted education. Her former students鈥攎any of whom collaborated with her on publications鈥攏ow carry her vision forward in classrooms and educational initiatives across the country and globe.
Mentorship and Legacy
Her extraordinary dedication not only shaped the Karnes Center but also left a lasting imprint on the university and the broader educational community.
鈥淒r. Karnes was a true pioneer whose vision transformed gifted education in Mississippi and beyond,鈥� said Southern Miss President Dr. Joe Paul. 鈥淪he was a force for good, a tireless leader, and her unwavering commitment to students, educators and families reflects the very best of our institution. We are honored to carry forward her legacy of excellence, innovation and inspiration.鈥�
Dr. Heather Houston, one of Karnes鈥� former students and now director of the Karnes Center, described her mentor as having 鈥渢he special gift of being able to identify unique talents and abilities in other people.鈥�
鈥淗er legacy reaches far beyond the world of gifted education and lives on in the entrepreneurial, artistic, legislative and intellectual achievements of those she gathered to herself over the years,鈥� Houston said. 鈥淪he had a way of revealing the wonderful things in you that you were not aware of yourself. Even more, she made it a point to encourage and cajole until you had stepped out in faith upon the platform she helped you to envision.鈥�
鈥淚 learned so much at her side and have been so honored to have her trust and friendship as I have taken on the directorship of her center,鈥� Houston continued. 鈥淪he has made such a difference in my life and in the lives of so many others. I would venture to say that Hattiesburg, and the world, would be a very different place without her influence.鈥�
Awards and Service
Karnes served on the Southern Miss faculty from 1973 until 2014. Her honors include the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children鈥檚 Award for Excellence (2003), Distinguished University Professor (2010), TeachTechTopia鈥檚 Top 10 Most Influential Special Education Professors (2010), the National Association for Professional Women鈥檚 Legacy Registry (2011鈥�12) and the National Association for Gifted Children鈥檚 Legacy Award (2015).
She also devoted her time to numerous community and professional organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Hattiesburg Advisory Council, the Hattiesburg Public School Foundation Board, the Forrest General Hospital Spirit of Women Advisory Council, Forrest General Foundation Board, the National Association for Gifted Children, the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children, and the Council for Exceptional Children, among many others.
鈥淚 had a wonderful career at Southern Miss,鈥� Karnes said upon her retirement. 鈥淭he people here have been very kind and supportive of our efforts to establish and expand gifted education in Mississippi.鈥�
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For more information about the Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at Southern Miss, visit the website.