Nancy F. Schaff
64 Reach Run Road  Ithaca, NY 14850  607.254-7416 (W)  607.793.1571 (C)
nschaff@cornell.edu
Current Position
NYS 4-H STEM Program Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development
8/11 – present
Cornell University, Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
Provide leadership for 4-H STEM programming in New York State, one of three national 4-H
mission mandates. Build and sustain collaborations with, and provide support to, professional
county 4-H Educators, 4-H STEM Program Work Team, state-level 4-H staff, volunteers, and
campus partners, on a variety of programs, issues, and events. Northeast Facilitator for state 4-H
Science Liaisons, and member of the national 4-H Science Management Team. 4-H non-formal
STEM education takes place in a variety of out-of-school settings, including clubs, afterschool
programs, camps, and statewide events.
Recent Experience
Education & Public Outreach Coordinator, Center for Radiophysics & Space Research
6/06 – 8/11
Cornell University Department of Astronomy, Ithaca, NY
Coordinate education and public outreach (E/PO) for research center with scientists working on
NASA and NSF funded research. Develop and implement professional development for formal and
informal educators, including teacher workshops that align with learning standards, and incorporate
interaction with scientists, NASA instructional materials, and content knowledge. Develop and
implement public outreach events that increase science literacy and understanding of space sciences
and research. Certified trainer for Afterschool Universe program. Prepare funding proposals, administer
grants, and coordinate outreach requests. Work closely with graduate students, research associates,
and faculty to coordinate and facilitate outreach efforts. Webmaster for E/PO website.
Education
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
A.B.D. Adult & Extension Education Ph.D. Program
M.S. Adult & Extension Education, 2004
Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
M.A.T. Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership, 1989
K-8 teaching certificate; science major, social science minor
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
B.S. Environmental Interpretation, Department of Park & Recreation Resources, 1974
Selected Professional Development
 NASA Professional Development Network Project-Based Inquiry Learning Course, 2011
 Astronomical Society of the Pacific E/PO Conferences, 2006-2010
 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Institute for Teachers, Goddard Space Flight Center - 2010
 Older Youth & Science in Out-of-School Time, KAVLI Institute - 2009
 New Jersey Astronomy Center for Education (Project/Family ASTRO workshops), 2007
 GEMS Associates workshop at Lawrence Hall of Science, 2007
 Goddard Space Flight Center Afterschool Universe workshop, 2007
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Professional Experience
Agricultural Literacy Outreach, Department of Education, Cornell University, 7/03 – 5/06

Director, NY Agriculture in the Classroom and Kids Growing Food school garden program,
12/04 – 5/06

Associate Director, Cornell Educational Resources Program; Coordinator, NY Agriculture in
the Classroom, 7/03 – 11/04
Directed statewide agricultural literacy program. Worked with partners from NYS Education
Department, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, NY Farm Bureau, and Cornell
Cooperative Extension. Coordinated program development and professional development
experiences for educators to support integration of the food and fiber system into the curriculum.
Prepared funding proposals and administered grants. Supervised administrative assistant and student
employees.
Extension Associate, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, .5FTE, 3/02-6/03
Coordinated statewide extension programming in the area of Youth Community Action and the
Teen Assessment Program (a locally-based research and community development project).
Co-Chaired Youth Community Action Program Work Team.
Youth Development Specialist, State 4-H Youth Development Office, Cornell University, 8/99-6/03
State 4-H curriculum contact, 4-H communications liaison between campus and county cooperative
extension associations, 4-H enrollment data management specialist, state 4-H site webmaster,
coordinator of 4-H Centennial celebration initiatives, NYS 4-H Foundation grants program
coordinator, state 4-H Public Speaking event coordinator.
Assistant to Director, LEAD New York, Cornell University 10/98-7/99
Responsible for database and recruitment management, correspondence, meeting/travel
arrangements, financial transactions, and workshop resources for LEAD New York Institute.
Program Leader/Extension Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County,
Canton, New York 1992-98
Provided leadership in developing, implementing, marketing, and evaluating extension programming
and events in the areas of leadership development, citizenship, workforce preparation, agricultural
awareness, youth science & technology, and youth plant & animal sciences. Provided administrative
leadership (Team Leader), including staff supervision, volunteer management, fund development,
and budget management, for 4-H Youth Development (1998) and Agriculture (1996-97). Chaired
Statewide Plant Sciences Committee.
Fifth Grade Teacher, Bloomfield Municipal Schools, New Mexico 1990-91 – diverse multicultural class
Second Grade Teacher, Everett Public Schools, Washington 1989-90
Outdoor Program Specialist, Otsikita Council of Girl Scouts, Michigan 1988-89
Developed, promoted, and implemented outdoor education events, programs, and camping;
recruited and managed volunteer staff; resident camp administrator.
Educational Programs Director, Upland Hills Farm, Oxford, Michigan 1976-1987
Developed, promoted, and implemented educational, recreational, and camping programs for
schools, youth groups, day campers, corporations, and families. Day camp director and co-manager
of farming and educational operations.
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Funded Projects
 Chandra X-Ray Center/Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 2011-2013 - $23,485
Here, There, and Everywhere: Science Through Analogy; subcontract to provide professional development
 New York Space Grant Consortium, 2010-2011 - $23,480
Developed and implemented NY Space Grant Teacher Fellows Program for middle school STEM teachers
 Aerospace Education Services Program (AESP) Implementation Mini-Grant, 2010-2011 - $21,830
Bringing Space Down to Earth! Teaching Secondary Science Using AESP Toolkit Materials
 New York Space Grant Consortium, 2009-2010 - $7,930
New York Space Grant Cornell Undergraduate/Community Partnerships (service-learning project)
 Operation: Military Kids, Jefferson County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 2009 - $13,327
NYS Operation: Military Kids Weekend Camps Initiative (Afterschool Universe program)
 Chandra Cycle 9 E/PO grant, 2008 - $15,000
Connecting Kids to the Universe with the Beyond Einstein Explorers’ Program (collaboration with CCE 4-H)
 New York State Education Department, 2008 - $30,131
Cornell Space Science Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers
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