Claire Underwood is pursuing her PhD in Education at the University of Cincinnati, where she is the Editorial Assistant for the Children, Youth, Environments (CYE) Journal.

Claire began her career as a community organizer and worked in social and environmental justice nonprofits for more than a decade before completing her Masters of 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. 

Her scholarship has been published in a variety of venues including: International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, Sustainability, and Children, Youth and Environments. Through her work, Claire seeks to support teachers, children, and families in affirming children’s agency, supporting their connection to the Earth, and working meaningfully together towards a just and sustainable present and future.