Special and Gifted Education

Dr. PJ “Paul James” Sedillo an Associate Professor for the Special/Gifted Education Department at New Mexico Highlands University where he teaches the Gifted Endorsement coursework.  As a suicidolgist his research centers around risk and resiliency for Gifted-LGBTQ+ persons.  He is published in Gifted Child Today, Journal of Education & Social Policy, Prufrock Press, Parents of High Potential, and ABQ Press where his book Solidarity through Pride won best book in Arizona/New Mexico for 2018 and in 2024 for Embraced of Excluded? Fact & Fiction of Famous LGBTQ+ Persons by Pieces of Learning.  PJ’s newest chapter is in Prufrock Press titled Identifying and Serving Diverse Gifted Learners: Meeting the Needs of Special Populations in Gifted Education which introduces Stages of Identity for GLBT-Gifted people.

Dr. Neily Snook is an Assistant Professor of Special and Gifted Education at New Mexico Highlands University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with more than 28 years of experience in K–12 education before transitioning to higher education, where she now teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in special education, gifted education, assessment, and education law, while mentoring pre-service and alternative-licensure educators.

Dr. Snook currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Social and Emotional Development Network for the National Association for Gifted Children and is President Emeritus of the New Mexico Association for the Gifted. Her professional focus includes gifted education, teacher preparation, social-emotional development, and leadership and advocacy, with a particular emphasis on validating students’ emotional experiences as a foundation for academic growth.

She holds a doctorate in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a science endorsement. Her work bridges research and practice through professional development, curriculum design, and statewide collaboration in support of educators, students, and families across New Mexico.

Mercedes Chaves is an Assistant Professor of Gifted and Special Education at New Mexico Highlands University and an accomplished special education professional with advanced training in education and organizational leadership. She holds a Level III Special Education Teaching License and a Level I Pre K–12 Rehabilitation Counselor License. She earned a Master of Business Management, a Master of Special Education, and is currently a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) student in Special Education.

Mercedes brings seven years of experience in secondary community-based instruction (CBI), where she supported students with disabilities in developing academic, vocational, and life skills essential for postsecondary success. Her instructional philosophy emphasizes functional, data-driven, and evidence-based practices designed to promote independence and meaningful participation in school and community environments.

Her primary research interests include Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mild to Moderate Intellectual Disabilities, with a focus on inclusive instructional models, transition programming, and empirically supported interventions.

In her role as a university faculty member, Mercedes is committed to providing rigorous, real-world, and engaging learning experiences for students preparing to enter the field of special education. She strives to equip future educators with the practical competencies, ethical foundations, and inclusive perspectives necessary to serve diverse learners effectively.

Mercedes is dedicated to advancing equitable educational practices and improving outcomes for individuals with disabilities through scholarship, instruction, and professional collaboration.