Professional Summary
Claire C. Underwood is a Doctoral Student at the University of Cincinnati, where she is the Editorial Assistant for the Children, Youth, Environments (CYE) Journal and conducts research with the Arlitt Center for Education, Research, & Sustainability.
After more than a decade working in nonprofit leadership and community organizing focusing on environmental and social justice, Claire returned to academia to earn her Master's in Environmental Education at the University of Minnesota Duluth. There, her work focused on the impact of nature-based learning on children’s empathy development. Claire co-designed and co-facilitated a 7-month professional learning experience that supported 15 early childhood educators in deepening their empathy practices through intentional & respectful engagement with Indigenous peoples and perspectives.
Through her work, Claire seeks to support teachers, children, and their families in creating experiences that affirm children’s agency, support their connection to the Earth, and work meaningfully together towards a just and sustainable present and future.
Education
Master of Environmental Education: University of MN Duluth Duluth, MN , 2022 (Early Childhood Environmental Education )
Bachelor of Arts: Gustavus Adolphus College St Peter, MN , 2013 (Religion & Peace Studies )
Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications
Ernst, J., Underwood, C., & Nayquonabe, T. (2023. ) Everyone Has a Piece of the Story: A Community of Practice Approach for Supporting Early Childhood Educators’ Capacity for Fostering Empathy in Young Children through Nature-Based Early Learning .International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, , 11 (1 ) ,34 -62
Ernst, J.; Curran, C.; & Budnik, L (2022. ) Investigating the Impact of Preschool Type on Young Children’s Empathy.Sustainability, , 14 ,1 -17More Information