The Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development was established at The University of Iowa by the State of Iowa Board of Regents in June 1988. The Center was made possible by a one million dollar endowment which established the Myron and Jacqueline Blank Chair in Gifted Education. The Belin Center is one of the few centers that has an endowed chair in gifted education. Dr. Nicholas Colangelo was appointed as the first Myron and Jacqueline Blank Professor of Gifted Education in 1989. The State of Iowa legislature provided matched funding to the Blank Endowment, to initiate the Belin Center.

In its brief history, the Belin-Blank Center has demonstrated remarkable growth and has established a national reputation for its research, training, and service. It is seen as a leader in the field of gifted education. Recently, the Belin-Blank Center has added a focus on international education for the gifted.

The center is named in honor of Connie Belin, a dedicated leader in education in the state of Iowa and, in particular, a leader furthering the cause of gifted education. In addition to her work as a teacher, school board member, member of the State Board of Regents, and member of the President's Commission on Presidential Scholars, she served on the board of the Iowa Talented and Gifted Program (ITAG) and on the Iowa State Department of Public Instruction Advisory Committee on Programs for the Gifted and Talented.

While there are several other Centers in the nation which focus on gifted education and talent development, the Belin-Blank Center is the most comprehensive and has established a reputation as a leader.