Ellen Cavanaugh, Ph.D.
Founder and CEO of Grow a Generation
I straddle the worlds of robotics and theology, 3rd grade research fellows at Baden Academy Charter School and undergraduates at Duquesne University, small business ownership (Grow a Generation, LLC) and community advocacy (director of the Beaver County STEM Education Coalition). I am passionate about inspiring and giving tools to parents and K-16 kids who are working to develop 21st century skills of innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, emotional intelligence, resilience, leadership, and vision.
In 2011, I founded Grow a Generation, a company dedicated to that mission. I also founded the Beaver County STEM Education Advocacy Coalition, a community based organization of professionals, teachers, and community members advocating for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and opportunities needed for 21st century jobs.
Most recently, I accepted the position of Director of the new Baden Academy Media Lab and will be overseeing the project based/passion based projects of the young research scholars.
I teach theology at Duquesne University (Vita), robotics at the Community College of Beaver County, coach FIRST robotics, serve as a learning coach for my son in his high school studies in a cyber school, Commonwealth Connections Academy, and build networks between diverse professionals eager to prepare our children to thrive in a world of global competition, exponential technological growth, and changing insights from positive psychology into what motivates and fulfills us as human beings.
Subscribe to my newsletter for regular insights, resources and encouragement. I would be honored to inspire and motivate your group or company as a speaker. I am working to answer your requests for skill handbooks and project workbooks, keep checking the website! Soon, I will be posting opportunities to travel with my family on voluntour trips in the Dominican Republic.
I live with my wonderful husband and my youngest child in our home in Southwestern Pennsylvania. My grown daughter often helps with the voluntours. My latest book 21st Century Parenting is due to be released May 2013. Please send me a message and tell me about you!
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9 comments
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Fr Joe Carr
July 5, 2011 at 12:14 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Congratulations on the new web site. I hope folks take advantage of it.
Phyllis Haney
July 5, 2011 at 9:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Very impressive, Ellen. This is a great idea. Keep it going.
Katie Brocklehurst
July 6, 2011 at 7:37 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for the great blog! I asked my 5 year old daughter who her hero was and, without hesitation, she said “God.” I asked if she could tell me 3 things that made God her hero and she said, “He died, He raised from the dead, and He saves us all the time.” Definitely not what I expected, but I sure am glad I asked!!
Sandee Monahan
July 6, 2011 at 5:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hello Ellen: Thank you so much for the news about Grow a Generation. I’m so excited for you. Congratulations on following your dreams and using your knowledge to help the community. Wishing you all the best on your new journey.
John Miller
July 10, 2011 at 3:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best of Luck in your new endeavor! Hope it brings you much success!
Carla Council
July 29, 2011 at 9:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Good Morning Dr.,
I want to share a vision with you that will not only motivate a parents group or book club but an entire community and extend to the surrounding areas directly.
Please send me your personal email and I’ll give you more information.
Thank you for empowering parents through your work with STEM and other speaking engagements.
Motivated mom
October 6, 2011 at 10:27 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m excited to get started with your program. I have a teenage son who has mental/emotional/behavioral disabilities and I’m always looking for ways to improve my parenting skills and help him grow. Sounds like an interesting and novel program. A lot of programs are aimed at typical kids and have rigid rules imposed by the nature of being a specific ‘program’ (for example, Boy Scouts has standards it must adhere to, or else it really wouldn’t be scouting) while your program so far seems to support a parent’s involvement.
Dr. Ellen Cavanaugh
October 6, 2011 at 3:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for your wonderful enthusiasm! Scouts can be a phenomenal program and their merit badges are wonderful project based learning experiences. I would say Grow a Generation focuses more on parent involvement – I’m so pleased you picked that up. Please take a moment to subscribe to the free newsletter (or give me permission to add to the e-list). Your son is so blessed to have such a motivated mom!
The Sprout Fund
July 25, 2012 at 12:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hi, Ellen!
Just wanted to say “thank you” for the Games for Change Lunch & Learn post! We are so glad that you enjoyed the luncheon and that you were able to take significant tools and tactics away from it.
We’ll look for you in future lunch & learns! Keep updated by checking sparkpgh.org for additional opportunities!
*Sprout