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Biographical article on Dr. Mildred Graham, Ph.D. OSU 1970.

Dr. Millie Graham, Science Educator

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Graham field trip. 1 Dr. Mildred Louise Wines Graham is reknown as a science educator who taught Marine Science and Historical Geology at Georgia State University in the 1970’s to the 1990’s and who provided leadership for many non-traditional students in the field of science teaching. Dr. Graham received a Lifetime Contributions to Science Education award from the National Science Teachers’ Association for her leadership and contributions to the learning of science in many parts of the Southeastern United States.

Mildred Louise Wines was born in West Virginia in 1927 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education. She married Jimmy Graham, and became a public school teacher in the “hollers” of West Virginia. Millie enjoyed playing golf and playing bridge, hobbies that she shared with her children, Scott and Nan, and with her graduate students. After teaching for a number of years in West Virginia, Jimmy, Scott and Nan supported Millie’s efforts to attain more education, and the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Millie earned her M.S. in Geology and the Ph.D. in Secondary Science Education at the Ohio State University. Many science teachers in Georgia knew Dr. Graham because of classes that she led to the Georgia Coast and the Florida Keys to learn about Marine Science and how to teach it. Millie co-founded the Georgia Chapter of the National Marine Educator’s Association (NAME), served on the board of directors of NMEA, and in 1987 was installed as president of the Georgia Association of Marine Educators (GAME) (http://www.gamarine-ed.org/). She published articles in the “1989 Journal of Marine Education”, and GAME originated the “Millie Graham Award” for a GAME member who has “provided service above and beyond the call of duty to GAME or the marine environment,” so that Millie will always be remembered as an outstanding leader in marine science education.

Millie Graham originated Women in Science programs at Georgia State University to bring together women leaders, both nationally and locally, to speak to young women students throughout Georgia who needed role models for achievement in the fields of science and engineering. The first American woman astronauts to orbit the earth, Dr. Sally Ride, was a speaker at one of these seminars, as well as local African American dentist, and other accomplished women who came to speak because of Millie’s reputation as an advocate for equality of opportunity for women in science.

Millie’s graduate students and Ph.D. students at Georgia State University went on to become department chairs, Fulbright Scholars, and science museum directors, as well as practicing science teachers throughout the southeast. One of Millie’s graduate students, Dr. Rena Faye Norby, inspired by Millie’s leadership, wrote her doctoral dissertation on “The Investigation of Women and Science-Related Careers.”

Millie became one of the first female members of Phi Delta Kappa, a national education honorary society, when she was a graduate student at the Ohio State University, where she earned her Ph.D. in 1970 in secondary science education. Millie was also a lifetime member of the National Association for Research in Science Education (NARST) and mentored many graduate students to join and support research in effective science teaching.

Mildred Graham moved to Sebastian, Florida, after her retirement from supervision of student teachers at Kennesaw State University and from Georgia State University as a professor of science education. She enjoyed the bird sanctuary at Sebastian, the inland waterway that was a few steps from her doorway, and playing bridge with friends from church who shared her love of science teaching and the environment. Dr. Millie Graham passed away in November 2005 with her children at her side. GAME published a tribute to Dr. Millie Graham with many tributes contributed by colleagues and former students.

References Journal: http://www.marine-ed.org/docs/Current.pdf National Marine Education Association(NMEA). Site accessed 11-21-09. http://www.susanleachsnyder.com/History1985.html