Leslie Flynn

Clinical Associate Professor

Introduction

Professor of STEM innovation and entrepreneurship at The University of Iowa focused on the research and development of curriculum, assessment, and instructional practices to increase the access and equity for all students to engage in a global innovation economy. Director of STEM Innovator program, providing educational technology tools and professional development training opportunities for educators focused on infusing innovation, invention and entrepreneurial design process into the K-14 classroom through community-driven, interdisciplinary, problem-based learning.

Current Positions

Clinical Associate Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship
Investor, Advisory Board, Intublade
President, Lindsay Flynn Investment Group
Owner, Operator, Two and Two Properties

Research Interests

STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Authentic Assessment
Problem-based Learning

Selected Awards & Honors

Finalist, NSF I-Corp: Climate Change and Health Solutions Challenge, 2024
Student Research Supervisor of the Year - University of Iowa, 2023
Education Fellow - National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016
Finalist, Women of Innovation Award - Technology Association of Iowa, 2016
National Aerospace Education Award - U.S. Department of Transportation, 2000
State Championship Head Coach - Science Olympiad, 2000
Lifetime Achievement in Education Award - Lakeville, MN Public Schools, 2000
U.S. Presidential Scholar Teaching Award - U.S. Department of Education, 2000
Outstanding Coach Award - National Science Olympiad, 2000
National Outstanding Teacher Scholar Award - Tandy Technology Scholars, 1996

Selected Publications

Sabel, J., Forbes, C., & Flynn, L. (2016). Elementary Teachers’ Use of Content Knowledge to Evaluate Students’ Thinking in the Life Sciences. International Journal of Science Education.
Flynn, L., Penn, R. L., & Johnson, P. (2007). Building a Successful Middle School Outreach Effort: Microscopy Camp. Journal of Chemical Education. 84 (6) pp. 955-961.
Flynn, L., Lawrenz, F., & Schultz, M. (2005). Block Scheduling and Mathematics: Enhancing Standards-Based Instruction?. National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Bulletin. 89 (642).
Flynn, L. & Joslyn, P. Science Innovation in 45 Minutes or Less. In Proceedings of University of Northern Iowa Science Education Conference 2023. 41. Iowa.
Moore, R., Flynn, L., Detchprohm, N., Eagle, E., Garner, J., & Maltese, A. Infusing Entrepreneurship into Engineering Design Curricula to Promote Inventiveness: A Student-Centered Approach to Inclusive Innovation. In Proceedings of American Society of Engineering Education 2022.
Skukauskaite, A., Couch, S., & Flynn, L. (2019). Researching Invention Education pp. 1-83. Audra Skukauskaite, Stephanie Couch (Eds.) Portland, Oregon: Lemelson Foundation Press.
Lawrenz, F., Schultz, M., Flynn, L., & Huffman, D. State Systemic Initiative Impact Study: NSF Empirical Report. National Science Foundation. pp. 1-205.

Selected Presentations

"Principles, Practices, and Networks Creating and Supporting Problem-based Education," Accepted Speaker at American Education Research Association Annual Meeting, April 2021.
"K-12 Student Engagement in a STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurial Problem-Based Learning Framework," Accepted Speaker at IA Academy of Science Teacher Annual Conference, March 2021.
"STEM Innovator and Intellectual Property," Guest/Invited Speaker at USPTO National Summer Teacher Institute, Tampa, Florida, July 2018.
"STEM Innovator," Guest/Invited Speaker at STEM Palooza Professional Development Conference, Waukee, Iowa, July 2017.
"Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship," Guest/Invited Speaker at USPTO National Summer Teacher Institute, Denver, Colorado, July 2017.
"STEM Innovator," Guest/Invited Speaker at Iowa Project Lead the Way STEM Conference, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, November 2016.
"Examining the STEM Landscape: Innovation and Entrepreneurship," Accepted Speaker at Iowa Mathematics and Science Teachers Conference, West Des Moines, Iowa, October 2016.
"STEM: An Interdisciplinary Framework to Engage in Innovation and Entrepreneurship," Guest/Invited Speaker at USPTO National Summer Teacher Institute, East Lansing, Michigan, July 2016.
"Partnership Impact on Developing 21st Century Skills for College and Career Readiness," Accepted Speaker at Iowa STEM School and Business Innovation Conference, June 2016.
"Professional Development to Maximize School and Business Partnerships," Accepted Speaker at Iowa STEM School and Business Innovation Conference, June 2016.

Selected Grants & Contracts

Flynn, L. (Co-Principal), Principal Investigator(s): Martin, B. InventEd Pathway: Providing All Children Access to the Invention Ecosystem. Lemelson Foundation. Funded. August 2021 - December 2022.
Flynn, L. (Principal Investigator). STEM Innovator: Infusing Innovation, Invention and Entrepreneurship into K-14 Classrooms. Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. Funded. July 2020 - April 2021.
Flynn, L. (Co-Investigator), Principal Investigator(s): Couch, S. Invention Education Research. Lemelson Foundation. Funded. April 2019 - December 2019.
Flynn, L. (Co-Investigator), Principal Investigator(s): Bowlus, D. STEM Innovator and The Henry Ford: Creating the Pathway and Supporting Educators via Professional Development Pilot Initiative for Michigan Educators. The Lemelson Foundation. Funded. April 2019 - December 2019.
Flynn, L. (Principal Investigator). STEM Innovator and Lemelson-MIT: Making the Case for Invention Education. The Lemelson Foundation. Funded. March 2019 - May 2020.
Flynn, L. (Co-Investigator). SaferSim. U.S. Department of Transportation. Funded. March 2015 - March 2018.
Flynn, L. (Principal Investigator). STEM Innovator: Developing Innovative Curriculum for 21st Century Learning. Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. Funded. December 2014 - June 2015.
Flynn, L. (Co-Principal), Principal Investigator(s): Cory, F. RAES: Reflective Assessment for Elementary Science. United States Department of Education. Funded. September 2013 - June 2016.
Flynn, L. (Co-Investigator). Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. United States Department of Defense. Funded. August 2013 - June 2017.
Flynn, L. (Co-Investigator). K-12 STEM Entrepreneurship. State of Iowa. Funded. July 2013 - June 2020.

Employment History

Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Education, Teaching and Learning, 2013 - 2017
President, Owner, Verdant Capital
Regional Director, Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS), Academy of Applied Science, US Department of Defense, 2013 - 2017
Special Assistant to the Deans, Colleges of Engineering & Education, 2012 - 2013
STEM Real World Business Mentor, Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, State of Iowa, 2012 - 2017
Clinical Instructor, College of Education, Teaching and Learning, 2011 - 2013
Teaching Specialist, Department of Organizational Leadership & Policy, University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, 2009 - 2011
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Instructor, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, 2006 - 2010
Scientific, Curriculum, and Editorial Consultant, Capstone Press Inc, 2006 - 2010
Director, Microscopy Camp, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, 2004 - 2011