Scholarly Work

Education

Ph.D. in Education Studies, University of Cincinnati Expected 2026     

Master of Environmental Education, University of Minnesota - Duluth  2021- 2023

B.A in Religion with Peace Studies Minor, Gustavus Adolphus College   2009-2013

  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude, GPA: 3.8

  • Thesis: "Environmentalism's Missing Piece: Connecting Human Suffering and Environmental Degradation"

Academic Appointments

Editorial Assistant, Children, Youth & Environments Journal, University of Cincinnati (August 2023 - present) 

Graduate Research Assistant, Arlitt Center for Education, Research & Sustainability, University of Cincinnati (August 2023 - present) 

Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, University of MN Duluth (August 2021 - June 2023)

Peer Reviewed Publications

Underwood, C. (in press, 2025). Honoring children’s agency: A systematic review of research with and by children in environmental contexts. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education.

Underwood, C., Ernst, J., & Meyer, N. (2025). Nurturing Empathy: Exploring Teachers’ Insights from Minnesota’s Nature Preschools. Children, Youth and Environments, 35(1), https://doi.org/10.7721/

Ernst, J., Underwood, C., Nayquonabe, T. (2025). Beyond empathy: Wiijigaabawitaadidaa niigaan izhaayang (Moving Forward Together) toward reconciliation through Indigenous education in early childhood environmental education. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education. 12(1), 50-63. https://naturalstart.org/sites/default/files/journal/7._ernst_et_al.pdf 

Ernst, J., Underwood, C., Wojciehowski, M., & Nayquonabe, T. (2024). Empathy capacity-building through a Community of Practice approach: Exploring perceived impacts and implications. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 5(3), Article 3.https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg5030027

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, 1-17. doi.org/10.3390/su14159320

Other Publications

Underhill, A., Underwood, C. (2025). Walking daily with wonder: Engaging teachers and children in the art and science of phenology. Exchange Press. https://hub.exchangepress.com/articles-on-demand/50535/

Carr, V., Underwood, C. (2024). Nature play: Early childhood and beyond [White Paper]. The Child’s Right to Play: The IPA USA 50th Annivesary Whitepaper. https://ipausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IPA-USA-50th-Anniversary-White-Paper.pdf 

Funded Grants

National & International Peer Reviewed Presentations

*Underhill, A., & Underwood, C. (2025, July 14–17). Deepening phenology practice in early childhood: Co-inquiry, reflection, and action [Conference session]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference, Virtual.

Underwood, C. (2025, July 14–17). Nurturing resilience: How nature-based education is adapting to the changing climate [Conference session]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference, Virtual.

Underwood, C., Nayquonabe, T., *Goodman, S., *Richtman, E., *Walker-Davis, S., & *Whittaker, L. (2025, July 14–17). Breathing with the world: Building reciprocal relationships with Indigenous peoples, places, and perspectives [Panel presentation]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference, Virtual.

Ernst, J., Underwood, C., & Nayquonabe, T. (2025, May 14–17). Beyond the surface: Ripple effects mapping for inclusive evaluation in community learning [Conference presentation]. Children and Nature Network Nature Everywhere Conference, St. Paul, MN.

Nayquonabe, T., Ernst, J., & Underwood, C. (2025, May 14–17). Pathways to reconciliation: Fostering culturally sustaining practice in outdoor early learning [Poster presentation]. Children and Nature Network Nature Everywhere Conference, St. Paul, MN.

Underwood, C., & Konerman, R. (2024, November 5–6). Group level assessment: A participatory approach in action [Workshop]. North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Research Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA.

Underwood, C., Rossmiller, A., & Carr, V. (2024, November 5–6). Nature-based early learning in a changing climate: Impacts and adaptations [Poster presentation]. North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Research Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA.

Underwood, C. (2024, November 5–6). Ripple effect mapping: Exploring intended and unintended outcomes [Roundtable discussion]. North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Research Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA.

Underwood, C. (2024, October 24). Climate justice world café: An international and interdisciplinary conversation [Invited virtual session]. Cincinnati, OH and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Carr, V., & Underwood, C. (2024, September 25–27). A dialogue on eco-centric views of nature play [Conference presentation]. International Association for the Child’s Right to Play Annual Conference, Greenville, SC.

Underwood, C., & *Wojciehowski, M. (2024, August 1–2). All relatives share empathy: Nurturing teacher and child empathy outdoors [Conference presentation]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference, Portland, OR.

Rossmiller, A., Underwood, C., & Konerman, R. (2024, August 1–2). Embracing the cold: Supporting children’s development and connection to nature through snow play [Conference presentation]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference, Portland, OR.

Kochanowski, L., Konerman, R., & Underwood, C. (2024). From theory to practice: Unpacking the pedagogical principles of early childhood education for sustainability [Virtual session]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference.

Underwood, C., Nayquonabe, T., & Ernst, J. (2024, May 28–31). Everyone has a piece of the story: Convening a community of practice to honor traditional knowledge and support nature connections [Conference presentation]. Children and Nature Network Nature Everywhere Conference, Madison, WI.

Ernst, J., & Underwood, C. (2023, October 17–20). Capacity-building through a community of practice approach [Virtual presentation]. North American Association for Environmental Education Annual Conference.

Underwood, C. (2023, October 12). Grounded theory methodology in action: Utilizing member checking to co-construct knowledge [Live workshop]. North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium, Virtual.

Underwood, C., & Ernst, J. (2023, July 24–28). Fostering empathy in early childhood: Investigating the impact of preschool type [Poster presentation]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference, Virtual.

Underwood, C. (2023, July 24–28). Stories and strategies: Strengthening empathy in early childhood and beyond [Conference session]. Natural Start Alliance Annual Conference, Virtual.

Underwood, C. (2023, April 28). Towards a grounded theory of empathy development in nature preschools [Invited panelist]. Natural Start Graduate Student Network Virtual Research Roundtable.

Underwood, C. (2022, October 11–12). Deepening empathy through a community of practice approach [Roundtable discussion]. North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium, Tucson, AZ.

Underwood, C., & Ernst, J. (2022, October 11–12). Fostering empathy in nature preschools: A quantitative exploration of impact [Poster presentation]. North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium, Tucson, AZ.

Underwood, C. (2023, April 27). Rooted in community: Towards a grounded theory of empathy development in nature preschools [Poster presentation]. UMD College of Education and Human Service Professions Research and Scholarship Showcase, Duluth, MN.

Underwood, C., & Ernst, J. (2022, April 28). Fostering empathy for people & animals: The promise of nature preschools [Poster presentation]. UMD College of Education and Human Service Professions Research and Scholarship Showcase, Duluth, MN.

Curran, C. (2022, April 28). Research and scholarship showcase [Invited panelist]. UMD College of Education and Human Service Professions, Duluth, MN.

Curran, C. (2021, October 19). Climate conversation: Moving through grief to action [Workshop presentation]. UMD Office of Sustainability.

Practitioner Dissemination

Ernst (PI). Bagidanaamowin Wiiji Aki (Breathing with the World) Community of Practice. Northland Foundation. $15,000. 10/01/2024 - 6/30/2025. Consultant.

Underwood (PI). Nature-based early learning in a changing climate: Equipping teachers for a new normal. University of Cincinnati, University Research Council. $7,500. 05/01/24-08/01/24

Ernst (PI). Wiijigaabawitaadidaa Niigaan Izhaayang (Moving Forward Together) Community of Practice. Northland Foundation. $31,975. 8/01/2023 - 6/30/2024. Consultant. 

Ernst (PI), Underwood (Co-PI).  Reflecting on and documenting the impact of the deepening empathy Community of Practice project. Woodland Park Zoological Society. $13,452. 01/2024 - 01/2025.

Ernst (PI), Underwood (Co-PI).  Deepening empathy practices with Indigenous perspectives through a Community of Practice approach. Woodland Park Zoological Society. $50,000. 09/2022 - 09/2023.

Underwood, C. (2025, May 17). Breathing with the world: Learning with the land [Keynote presentation]. Minnesota Early Childhood Outdoors Annual Conference, Duluth, MN.

*Wilcox, S., Underwood, C., & Ernst, J. (2025, April 17). Documenting the impact of the “Deepening empathy community of practice” project [Virtual presentation]. Advancing Empathy Webinar: Community and Cultural Connections with the ACE Network.

Underwood, C. (2024, April 27). All relatives share empathy: Infusing an empathy-based pedagogy in your teaching practice [Keynote presentation]. Minnesota Early Childhood Outdoors Annual Conference, Duluth, MN.

Nayquonabe, T., & Underwood, C. (2024, February 21). Breathing with the world: Deepening empathy practices with Indigenous perspectives [Webinar]. Natural Curiosity, Toronto, Canada.

Underwood, C. (2024, February 16). A two-worlds approach to nurturing empathy in young children [Podcast interview]. Green Teacher.

*Wojciehowski, M., Nayquonabe, T., Underwood, C., & Ernst, J. (2023, November 17). Deepening empathy practices with Indigenous perspectives through a Community of Practice approach [Virtual presentation]. Capacity Building Grant Presentations with the ACE Network.

Underwood, C. (2022, September 30). Empathetic by nature: The power of nature play to foster empathy [Workshop presentation]. Minnesota Association for Environmental Education Annual Conference, Finland, MN.

Local and Regional Presentations

Scholarships and Awards

Outstanding Educational Studies Doctoral Student Award, 2025, University of Cincinnati 

University of Cincinnati Graduate Conference Travel Award, 2024, $600 to attend the 2024 North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium.

Master of Environmental Education Outstanding Graduate Student, 2023, University of Minnesota Duluth.

UMD Steven Tickle Sunshine Fund Scholarship, 2023, $500 to attend the 2022 North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium.

William B Stapp Scholarship Recipient, 2022, covered the registration fee to attend the 2022 North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium.

Teaching

University of Cincinnati

Instructor of Record, Fall 2024

  • ECE 4070: Nature Pedagogy, Assessment, and Program Evaluation

University of Minnesota - Duluth

Instructor of Record, Spring 2022

  • ENED 4555: Foundations of Environmental Education prepares students to teach in formal settings. 

    • Adapted course to integrate DEI learning and reflection opportunities throughout the semester.

Guest Lectures

  • ENED 1500: Children, Nature, & Sustainability, Spring 2023

  • ENED 5850: Classroom Applications, Fall 2022

  • HLTH 2200: Research and Evaluation, Fall 2021 

Wind Ridge Schoolhouse - Duluth, MN

Nature Preschool Teaching Intern, Winter - Spring 2022

  • Led small group learning opportunities outdoors.

  • Supported children in communicating their needs, navigating conflict, taking risks, and engaging in peaceful play