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Education and Certifications

• Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL - Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction with a Major in Science Education (2013)
• Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL - Specialist in Science Education (2011)
• Texas A&M University, College State, TX - Master of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (1985)
• Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutherford, NJ - Bachelor of Science in Biology/Marine Biology (1981)

Academic Areas

• I am the full time Executive Director of . The Center is a cooperative venture between ���������� and , with a mission to provide opportunities for the community to engage with the environment. I am also faculty in the College of Education and Health Professions teaching courses that deal with elementary and middle grades science instruction for pre-service teachers.
  
  My research interests include:

  • Evaluating the impacts of out-of-school environmental education programs;
  • The use of drawings as a tool for assessing learning about the environment;
  • In-service and pre-service teacher self-efficacy for teaching science; and
  • Extending the learning beyond the informal visit.

Professional Experience

• 2013–present:  Executive Director of Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center & Assistant Professor of Science Education, ����������, Columbus, GA.
• 2011–2013: Sea-to-See Program Director, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.  Non-tenured faculty in science education outreach.
• 1999–2011: President, Bosso, Dentzau & Imhof, Inc., Tallahassee, FL. Environmental consulting dealing with wetlands and listed species.
• 1996–1999:  President, Piedmont Environmental Services, Inc., Tallahassee, FL.  Environmental consulting concerning wetlands, waters and land development.
• 1996–1999:  Project Manager, The Phoenix Environmental Group, Inc., Tallahassee, FL.  Environmental consulting firm.
• 1985–1993:  Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Fort Myers and Tallahassee, FL.  Environmental Specialist in wetland regulation.

Publications

• Dentzau, M. (2021). Student mental models of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 17(4), e2254. 
• Brown, J. L., Frazier, D., Dentzau, M, Hawkins, A., Gul, T., Derico, S., & Saltiel, I. (2021). A comparative examination of two online programs. Georgia Educational Researcher, 18(2), 88-108. DOI: 10.20429/ger.2021.180205
• Dentzau, M. W. (2020). Nature’s wealth: A journey of entrepreneurial conservation. Nokuse Education, Inc.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2018). The tensions between indigenous knowledge and western science. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 14(4), 1031-1036
• Roseler, K., & Dentzau, M. (2017). Using drawings to demonstrate informal science learning experiences through the contextual model of learning. In Drawing for science education: An international perspective (pp. 123-134). Sense Publishers
• Dentzau, M. W., & Martínez, A. G. (2016). The development and validation of an alternative assessment to measure changes in understanding of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Environmental Education Research, 22(1), 129-152.
• Dentzau, M. W., & Martinez, A.J.G. (2015). Art to Capture Learning About the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem–Why a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words. In EcoJustice, Citizen Science and Youth Activism (pp. 139-170). Springer International Publishing.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2014). The value of place. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 9(1), 165-171.
• Enderle, P., Dentzau, M., Roseler, K., Southerland, S., Granger, E., Hughes, R., & Saka, Y. (2014). Examining the Influence of RETs on Science Teacher Beliefs and Practice. Science Education, 98(6), 1077-1108.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2013). Family learning: the missing exemplar. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 8(2), 329-332.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2013). Using drawings to understand students’ changing conceptions of the longleaf pine ecosystem. (Unpublished dissertation). The Florida State University, Tallahassee.
• Roseler, K., & Dentzau, M. W. (2013). Teacher professional development: A different perspective. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 8(3), 619-622.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2011). The impacts of an out of school environmental education program on student understanding of the longleaf pie ecosystem. (Unpublished specialist thesis). The Florida State University, Tallahassee.
• Dentzau, M.W., & Sampson, V. (2010). Fire and ecological disturbance: A 5E lesson to address an important misconception. Science Teacher, 78(4), 44-50.
• Dentzau, M.W. (2002). Prescribed burn enhances flowering of Florida sandreed (Florida). Ecological Restoration, 20(4), 295-296.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2000). Fire essential in wetland restoration at the Moors Golf Course. Land and Water, September/October 2000: 58-60.
• Dentzau, M.W., & Chittenden, M.E. Jr. (1990). Reproduction, movements and population dynamics of the Atlantic threadfin, Polydactylus octonemus, in the Gulf of Mexico, Fishery Bulletin 88: 439-462.
• Dentzau, M.W. 1985. Life history aspects of Atlantic threadfin, Polydactylus octonemus. Thesis, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University.

Papers and Juried Presentations

• Conway, B., Dentzau, M., & Shaw, K. (2025). Using a community of reflective practitioners to support pre-service teacher development. Presentation at Critical Questions in Education Conference. Savannah, GA, February 3 – 5, 2025.
• Dentzau, M., & Shaw, K. (2024). Understanding the value of a service-learning experience for pre-service STEM teachers. Paper presented at the Association for Science Teacher Education International Conference. New Orleans, LA, January 10-13, 2024.
• Dentzau, M. & Omert McCullough, V. (2022). Conceptualization of STEAM education in the elementary classroom. Paper presented at the 37^th Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education (SASTE) 2022 Annual Meeting. Gulf Shores, AL, October 6-8, 2022.
• Dentzau, M., & Patrick, P.G. (2021). Using subject cameras to understand group interaction at an informal environmental learning center.  Paper presented at the 36^th Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education (SASTE) 2021 Annual Meeting.  Safety Harbor, FL, October 16, 2021.
• Patrick, P. G., & Dentzau, M. (2019). Actor-network theory: Camera-glasses and family interactions with boundary objects in an environmental learning center. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). Baltimore, MD, April, 2019. 
• Dentzau, M. W., & Patrick, P. (2018). Discourse at a nature center: What subcams tell us. Presentation at the annual meeting of the North American Association for Environmental Education, Spokane, WA, October 9-10, 2018.
• Dentzau, M.W., & Anderson, E. (2018). Evaluating nonformal learning: Applying research to practice. Presentation at the annual meeting of the North American Association for Environmental Education, Spokane, WA, October 10-13, 2018.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2017). The value of “time” in an informal learning context. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Association of Science Teacher Education, Pensacola, FL.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2017). The value of multiple engagements with EE over time. Presentation accepted for the Research Symposium of the North American Association for Environmental Education, Puerto Rico. Conference cancelled due to hurricane damage
• Anderson, E., & Dentzau, M.W. (2017). Beyond the questionnaire: Alternative methods for gathering (and using!) evaluation data.  Presentation accepted for the North American Association for Environmental Education, Puerto Rico. Conference cancelled due to hurricane damage.
• Patrick, P. & Dentzau, M. W. (2017). Value of an online professional development course for informal educators. Presentation accepted for the North American Association for Environmental Education, Puerto Rico. Conference cancelled due to hurricane damage.
• Patrick, P., & Dentzau, M. W. (2017). Subjective Cameras in EE: Valuing the experience of seeing wisely. Presentation accepted for the Research Symposium of the North American Association for Environmental Education, Puerto Rico. Conference cancelled due to hurricane damage.
• Dentzau, M.W. (2016, October). An unique partnership furthering connections to nature. Presentation at the annual meeting of The North American Association for Environmental Education, Madison, WI.
• Dentzau, M.W. (2016, October). Using drawings to assess the ecological content knowledge in elementary age students. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of The North American Association for Environmental Education, Madison, WI.
• Dentzau, M.W. (2014, April). Development and validation of an alternative assessment for ecological learning in elementary students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of The National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Pittsburg, PA.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2014, April). The impact of an out-of-school environmental education program on students’ mental models of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Roundtable discussion at the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
• Dentzau, M. W., Roseler, K., & Southerland, S. A. (2014, April). Views of classroom inquiry: Differing perspectives.  Paper presented at the annual meeting of The National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Pittsburg, PA.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2014, March). Using a drawing assessment to measure the impact of an environmental education program. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia, Eatonton, GA.
• Roseler, K. & Dentzau, M. W. (2014, April). Differing views of classroom inquiry enactment. Paper presented at the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2014, February). Understanding the impacts of an informal environmental education experience: A picture is worth a thousand words. A paper presented at the annual meeting of the Georgia Science Teachers Association, Macon, GA.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2013, October). Fourth grade students’ long-term episodic memories of an informal environmental education program on a locally threatened ecosystem. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Association of Science Teacher Education, Statesboro, GA.
• Dentzau, M.W., Enderle, P., Southerland, S., & Roseler, K. (2013, April). Examining the Influence of RET’s: Tracing Changes in Science Teachers’ Beliefs and Affect. Paper presented at the annual meeting of The National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Puerto Rico.
• Roseler, K, & Dentzau, M. W. (2013, April). How Teachers Describe Classroom Inquiry after an In-depth Research Experience for Teacher's (RET) Professional Development. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
• Dentzau, M. W. & Gallard, A. (2012, March). The Use of Drawings to Evaluate the Impact of an Out of School Environmental Education Experience. Paper presented at the annual meeting of The National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Indianapolis, IN.
• Dentzau, M. W. (2011, October). The changing perceptions of the longleaf pine ecosystem by 4^th grade students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Association for Science Teacher Educators, Athens, GA.
• Dentzau, M.W. (1996). Florida Academy of Sciences Meeting.  The effective use of prescribed fire in wetland restoration.  Melbourne, FL.

Professional Activities

• Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation Grant, A Collaborative Network to Increase the Number of High-Quality Secondary School STEM Teachers in Georgia, 2025-2019.
• Recipient of the 2022-2023 COEHP Harrison Award.
• Service and Leadership Award, Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education, 2016.
• Served as a Board Member of Westville – 2025-2024.
• Served as Columbus Regional Science and Engineering Fair Director – 2023-2018.
• Member of the Steering Committee of The Coalition for Sound Growth in Columbus – 2023 - 2016.
• EarthShare Georgia, Board Member – 2020 - 2016. EarthShare Georgia is a non-profit that connects people to other trusted nonprofit organizations in the state dedicated to conserving and protecting our air, land and water.
• Educational Community Engagement Committee of The White-Water Stakeholders Group – 2021 - 2014.
• Professional development design and implementation on life science content for Georgia Department of Education Mathematics and Science Partnership Program Grant, “Increasing Math and Science Content Knowledge for Special Education Co-Teachers”, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
• Life Science and Environmental Science Content Expert for Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Stepping Up Technology Implementation Grant. Project title: “ESCOLAR, Etext Supports for Collaborative Online Learning and Academic Reading”, 2013-2014.