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About Patty Born-Selly

Patty Born-Selly got her Master of Arts in Education from Hamline and is currently enrolled in the Hamline doctoral program. She is the author of two books about environmental and science education for teachers who work with young children. She is the former executive director of the National Center for STEM elementary education at Saint Catherine University. In that capacity, Patty helped teachers create strong connections between the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For 10 years, Patty has operated a science and nature education consulting business, Small Wonders, serving schools through environmental and science curriculum development, grant writing assistance, and professional development for teachers. Her clients have included public and private schools, government agencies, and non profit organizations. Throughout her career, Patty has taught in early childhood and elementary settings, and has served as a naturalist-in-residence as well as a science specialist. For many years, she worked as an environmental educator for parks and nature centers, serving children and adults of all ages, and for several years, she was an instructor and outreach specialist for the Science Museum of Minnesota. She loves to help people see 'the nature in STEM and the STEM in nature' Patty is also particularly interested in increasing the opportunities for high-quality STEM and environmental education in underserved communities.

Positions

2015 - Present Assistant Professor, Environmental Education and STEM, Hamline University
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2013 - Present Adjunct Faculty Member, St. Catherine University ‐ Education Department
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2013 - Present Director, St. Catherine University
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2009 - Present Adjunct Faculty Member, Metropolitan State University ‐ Psychology Department and Early Childhood Studies Program
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2014 - 2015 After-school STEM Teacher, Sunny Hollow Montessori
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2005 - 2014 STEM and Nature Enrichment Educator, Small Wonders LLC
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2009 - 2013 After-school Enrichment Instructor, Minneapolis Public Schools
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2011 - 2012 Substitute Teacher, Friends School of Minnesota
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2009 - 2012 Adjunct Faculty Member, Hamline University ‐ Center for Global Environmental Education
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2008 - 2012 STEM Early Childhood Instructor and Curriculum Developer, Curious Minds LLC
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2011 - 2011 Environmental Educator, Glacier Hills Elementary School
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2007 - 2011 Early Childhood and Elementary Science Education Instructor, Science Museum of Minnesota
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2005 - 2008 Environmental Educator, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation
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2001 - 2005 Environmental Educator, Dakota County Parks Department
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Disciplines

Research Interests

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Honors and Awards

  • $40,000 To support operations and outreach for the National Center for STEM Elementary Education
  • $8,500 To support outreach and development of a set of “best practices” for teaching computer coding in a girls-only setting
  • $212,000 To support start-up and management of the National Center for STEM Elementary Education at St Catherine University
  • $80,000 To support professional development and the creation of a “train-the-trainer” model for teachers in the Stillwater Area Public Schools

Education

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Present Doctorate in Education, Hamline University
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2005 M.A. Education, Hamline University
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2001 B.A. Education and Biology, Metropolitan State University
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Scholarship (2)