Myra Garces-Bacsal has served as a teacher educator for over 15 years in Singapore and in the UAE. She is an Associate Professor with the Special and Gifted Education Department and served as the Assistant Dean for Research & Graduate Studies for the College of Education, UAE University. She has led two collaborative research projects with University College London on diverse picturebooks and culturally responsive, inclusive and sustaining pedagogies among teachers and leaders in the UAE. Myra also served as a Chief Judge for the World Giftedness Center Award in 2025 for the Applied Research Global Award of Talented Education and the School Global Award Initiative of Talented Education, and served as a jury member for both awards in 2023 and 2024. Myra is a Nominated Member of the UNESCO Chair for Child Maltreatment in 2024, a Recipient of the College Excellence Award for Service in 2023, College Excellence Award for Scholarship in 2022, and a University Achievement Award in Research in 2022.