nathaniel lees gage (august 1, 1917 – august 17, 2008) was an american educational psychologist who made significant contributions to a scientific understanding of teaching. he conceived and edited the first "handbook of research on teaching" (gage, 1963), led the stanford center for research and development of teaching, and served as president of the american educational research association. gage was a professor at the stanford graduate school of education, where he moved in 1962 after 14 years at the university of illinois. deborah stipek, dean of the stanford school of education, called gage a "giant among educational researchers."