Ann Catherine Rossmiller

Dr. Ann Rossmiller is a researcher who is guided by human development and sustainability. Through her work, she strives to highlight the importance of early childhood experiences and the early childhood profession related to greater sustainability goals while also demonstrating the power children and youth have to shape the world around them when given proper resources and autonomy.

Her previous work as a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati included working on a multi-year, NSF funded research project. This mixed methods study explored how young children’s experiences on a playscape– a nature-based environment with intentionally designed affordances– innately lend themselves to STEM learning.
Her dissertation research built from this work and investigated the nuances of nature-based early learning (NBEL) experiences as well as the impact impact of these experiences on one’s sustainable mindset during preadolescence.

She continues this work in her current position as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Arlitt Child Development Center for Education, Research, and Sustainability and as a member of the editorial team for Children, Youth & Environments (CYE) journal. Dr. Rossmiller also previously developed and currently teaches two undergraduate courses related to education for sustainability and the impact of environments on child and youth development.

PhD: The University of Cincinnati 2023 (Educational Studies: Developmental & Learning Sciences )

MA: The University of Cincinnati 2018 (Educational Studies: Educational Psychology and Child Study )

BS: The University of Akron 2016 (Statistics)

BA: The University of Akron 2016 (Psychology)

Poster Presentations

Carr, V., Kloos, H., Brown, R., Maltbie, C., Kochanowski, L., Schlembach, S., Rossmiller, A.C., Yuan, Y., Zeng, W., Lindberg, R., & Konerman, R. (07-2020. ) Nature playscapes in ECE: Results from a multi-year NSF research in service to practice study .North American Association of Environmental Education, Lexington, KY. . Conference. . Level:International

Carr, V. & Rossmiller, A.C. (02-2019. ) STEM in the playscape: Tools for research and education .the meeting of the NSF Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education, Alexandria, VA. . Conference. . Level:National

Rossmiller, A.C. & Carr, V. (2017. ) Parental Influence on children’s nature play: A sociocultural approach .the 2017 Spring Research Conference, Cincinnati, OH. . Conference. . Level:Regional

Paper Presentations

Rossmiller, A. (07-29-2022. ) Teaching Tomorrow's Leaders: Uncovering the Lasting Relationship Between Nature-Based Early Learning Experiences & Preadolescents' Sustainable Mindsets .Conference. Level:International

Konerman, R., Schlembach, S., Carr, V., Yuan, Y., Rossmiller, A.C., & Kochanowski, L. (07-2020. ) Unlocking the potential: Using digital training modules to promote best practices in nature-based learning environments .Conference.

Rossmiller, A. C., Yuan, Y., & Kochanowski, L. (10-2019. ) The dynamic of conducting research in early environmental education .Lexington, KY. Conference.

Rossmiller, A. C., Yuan, Y., & Carr, V. (05-2019. ) "Because I saw a snake there": Lasting impacts of a nature excursion on urban preschoolers .Oakland, CA. Conference.

Rossmiller, A. C., Lindberg, R., Schlembach, S., & Carr, V. (03-2019. ) Exploring how winter weather enhances preschool children’s outdoor play .Harrisonburg, VA. Conference.

Rossmiller A. C. (10-2019. ) Strengthening the field: A call for mixed methods in environmental education research .Lexington, KY.

Carr, V., Rossmiller, A. C., & Schlembach, S. (2017. ) Built communities for nature play: Teachers’ voices on children’s play experiences .Rochester, NY. Conference.

Introduction to Education for Sustainability

Child and Youth Environments