Deborah Ruf, Ph.D.

I no longer see clients and I am using my newly opened up time to write what it has taken a lifetime to learn! I am first updating my 2005/2009 book, 5 Levels of Gifted, and plan to submit my manuscript before the end of 2018. Then, my goal is to write several other books and many, many shorter pieces that address the needs of intellectually advanced children and adults. I will explore updating and making my online Ruf Estimates of Levels of Gifted Children's IQ Test, too. I remain passionate about my work and the people it touches.

Dr. Ruf is available as a keynote speaker/presenter for parent, teacher, and professional groups and associations. Her primary topics include high intelligence, related gender and personality type differences, inter- and intra-personal effects of high intelligence on family, school, friendships, and work environments, and how to discover and provide methods of support for best outcomes. Dr. Ruf no longer conducts training workshops.

Talentigniter is an online entity designed to uncover, highlight, and develop the gifts and talents of bright people from infancy through old age. The first product was launched in July 2010, The Ruf Estimates Kids IQ Test. Parents complete the inventory based on their child's early development, interests, and behaviors and receive an IQ estimate and individualized recommendations and explanations. A Gifted Parent PDF book and several Self-Esteem Tests are among our products, and more products related to adult intelligence, social and emotional issues and giftedness will be launched soon. We provide an opinion blog as well as free access to many of my writings and research.

As part of my pursuit of how best to use my knowledge, experience, and education, I worked toward an educational administration credential upon the completion of my PhD in Psychological Foundations of Education. I worked full time for three months at all three system levels - elementary, middle and high school. The experience brought me up to date with how the schools are doing and showed me what still needs to be changed and done.

Taught Kindergarten through grade five students in gifted pull-out classes as a half time job for this one school year. It gave me the experience to see what this is like and whether I thought it was a good idea for gifted students.

I taught general education, school law, gifted education classes for North Dakota State University, Moorhead State University, St. Mary's and St. Thomas Universities. I supervised student teachers for Moorhead State University in public schools up and down the Red River Valley of the North (mostly in the winter).

My three children were all involved in the entertainment business during their childhoods. I handled the audition and talent agency processes, did the scheduling, driving, legal and financial arrangements for all of this. All three did radio ads and voice-overs; two did television and industrial advertising and acting; and two were involved in motion pictures. My middle son was a major character is six major motion pictures during this time and I managed the oversight of his living arrangements, schooling, travel, supervision, finances, legal matters, contract negotiations, etc. There was also a great deal of driving involved.

I taught 4th-6th grade under three different principals and in two different schools. Alexandria started busing and complete racial and socioeconomic integration the third year of my seven years there. This experience was wonderful and eye-opening for me. It still informs my professional thoughts, goals and behaviors today.

My doctoral dissertation is 41 case studies of highly gifted adults and what made them turn out the ways that they did. This was before email, so all questionnaires and data gathering were done by snail mail and the whims and schedules of the participants. This is my way of explaining why it took so long.

Although Ohio Wesleyan is a good school, I went there because everyone else in my family had gone there. It was not a good choice or a good fit for me. My experiences there gave me a better understanding--belatedly--of how lack of information about ourselves and where we fit into the overall spectrum can lead us to make poor choices for ourselves.