Prior to earning his Ph.D. from Purdue University, Dr. Fugate worked as an elementary teacher in the Houston Independent School District, where he also served as a Gifted Coordinator and Magnet Coordinator. His current research focus is twice-exceptionality, and he is also part of a team focused on increasing research, identification, and services for gifted Native American populations.

He has presented to parents, teachers, and schools across the United States and internationally on topics such as creativity, curriculum compacting, identification, twice-exceptionality, underserved populations, and Total School Cluster Grouping.  Dr. Fugate was the Graduate Student Representative to the American Educational Research Association’s (AERA) Special Interest Group for Research on Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent; he currently serves on the Editorial Board for AERA’s online journal, Gifted Children. Dr. Fugate has been recognized by Purdue University with the College of Education’s Dean’s Doctoral Scholarship, the Feldhusen Doctoral Fellowship, and the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship; Dr. Fugate has also served on several NAGC committees and was the recipient of the NAGC Graduate Student Award in 2013.