Robert Alan Black

"Alan received a letter about his oldest son, Jeff, qualifying for gifted education but his school had no program. Within a month Alan became the volunteer teacher of the gifted at Plumosa Elementary in Delray Beach, FL. That led him to read many books about teaching and learning and those led him to take gifted education courses at FAU and to discover articles written by Dr. E. Paul Torrance about the measuring and teaching of creative thinking skills. Those led him to meet Bob Eberle, creator of S.C.A.M.P.E.R. and Dr. Dorothy Sisk, then US Director of Gifted Education at a workshop on Gfited Education. Eberle convinced Alan to attend CPSI, which he did in 1978 and his life was changed. He completed a Masters of Education focused on the Guidance and Counseling of Gifted, Talented and Creative Individuals at Florida Atlantic University and then a Ph.D. at the University of Georgia with Dr. Torrance as his major professor. Over the past 37 years he has been a speaker, author, consultant focused on the development of creative thinking traits, skills and tools throughout entire workplaces around the world. Since he was 5 years old he has traveled to 49 US states and 90 countries. He has given over 3600 presentations and presented at over 150 creativity conferences around the globe."

Since 1966 Alan has completed a BS in Architecture, MA in Interior Architecture, MA in Visual Communication, M.Ed. in Guidance & Counseling focused on Gifted, Talented and Creative people, Ph.D. in teaching of creative thinking skills and tools, been given several awards by the Creativity Education Foundation, presented at over 150 creativity conferences, served on the Board of the American Creativity Association, received the 2010 Dave Tanner, Champion of Creativity Award. Plus traveled around the US and the globe several times promoting the development of creative thinking in all employees of entire organizations or classrooms.