Mandy Dunphy, Ph.D.

Dr. Mandy Dunphy is a Clinical Professor of Elementary STEM Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. She earned her Ph.D. in 2024 from the University of Iowa in Teaching and Learning with a focus on science. Her research centers on leveraging informal science education spaces to enhance formal classroom learning, specifically examining how knowledge authority affects student agency and subjectification in various learning environments. As part of her research, she co-founded the Unbound: Learning without Limits Research Collaborative and Data Repository at the University of Iowa, which aims to build stronger relationships with informal learning environments in the community and create a bridge between researchers and community partners. Dr. Dunphy serves as PI (principal investigator) and co-PI on multiple projects investigating the impacts of nature-based learning.

Dr. Dunphy’s teaching spans over a decade in various contexts. She began her teaching career teaching science to at the elementary and middle levels from 2013-2021. At the University of Iowa, Dr. Dunphy has taught science methods for both elementary and secondary education and developed a new curriculum for a course titled "Nature of Science." She also taught societal and educational application courses in Earth Science and biological sciences as well as supervised both math and science practicum and student teaching students.  

As a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Dunphy dedicates much of her service to supporting students. She has served as a Peer2Peer Mentor for new graduate students and as a First-Generation Undergraduate Peer Mentor since 2022. In her role as Chair of the Graduate Student Executive Committee, she led initiatives to support graduate students within the College of Education. Dr. Dunphy was also involved with the College of Education Community Council’s Ally Affinity Group and served as a NOYCE Mentor from 2019 to 2022, guiding preservice science teachers. Beyond the university, she has contributed as a member of the Iowa Department of Education’s Science Leadership Committee and reviewed proposals for the 2023 Learning Sciences Graduate Student Conference and the 2024 International Learning Science Conference. Additionally, Dr. Dunphy has delivered guest lectures on topics such as soil investigations and personal motivation for the Undergraduate Environmental Science Club.

Degrees

Ph.D., Teaching and Learning in Science Education
2024 | University of Iowa, Iowa

M.A., STEM Education
2018 | University of Iowa, Iowa

B.A., Elementary Science Education 
2013 | University of Iowa, Iowa

Awards & Honors

• Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award- 2024 | University of Iowa
• Champion for Student Success Award- 2022 | University of Iowa

Open-Source Publication

Iowa 8th Grade Science Bundles: Apply Science to Iowa (2017), Open Educational Resource