Patty Merk
- Area Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences
- Regional Specialist, Agriculture Education
- (602) 908-0531
- MARICOPA COUNTY
- PHOENIX, AZ 85040-8807
- pmerk@cals.arizona.edu
Biography
Dr. Patricia (Patty) Merk creates, implements and manages programs for children and families as Area Extension Agent and Regional Specialist for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County. Her programs are focused in the areas of early childhood development, preschool environments and curricula, and early childhood teacher education, focusing on early brain development, nature education in preschools, child development and family literacy. Dr. Merk has twenty-eight years of experience in educating parents and early childhood professionals in child development. Dr. Patty Merk incorporates a high degree of community development and outreach into her programs and promotes families making connections with each other. She is the co-author of several peer-reviewed, research-based curricula including Brain Builders for Life: Prenatal to Age 3 and Arizona Community Training, a leadership curriculum. She has served as a member of the First Things First South Phoenix Regional Council for 12 years and contributes in numerous capacities with collaborative groups, alliances and boards.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Family Studies and Human Development
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, US
- Conceptualizing the Relationships Between Grandmothers and the Grandchildren They Are Raising: A Grounded Theory Approach
- M.S. Child Development and Family Studies
- Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States
- B.S. Journalism
- Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States
Awards
- Multi-state Collaboration Team Award
- National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Fall 2023
- Eddie Basha Award for 15 years of Regional Council Service
- First Things First State-Level Recognition, Summer 2020
Interests
No activities entered.
Courses
No activities entered.
Scholarly Contributions
Presentations
- Martinez, C. L., & Merk, P. A. (2023, August). Professional Development Planning: Opportunities and Funding. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Annual Conference. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
- Merk, P. A. (2023, May). Section 7: Service and Outreach Portfolio. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Promotion and Continuing Status Workshop. Maricopa, Arizona: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
- Merk, P. A., & Martinez, C. L. (2023, August). New Professional and Program Development Resources, Tools, and Techniques for Success. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Poster Presentations
- Merk, P. A., Floyd, T., Gonzalez, V., & Aborached, H. (2023, August). Summer of Science: STEAM for Little Kids and Parents. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Other Teaching Materials
- Merk, P. A. (2023. Safe and Healthy Infant Sleep: A Workshop for Parents and Caregivers. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension-Maricopa County.More infoSafe and Healthy Infant Sleep is a curriculum for a two-hour parent/caregiver workshop.
- Merk, P. A., & Martinez, C. L. (2023. Training Overview, Brain Builders for Life: Birth to Three Curriculum Version 2.0. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.More infoThis work is a 17-page overview of the a 16-hour early brain development curriculum for parents and early childhood professionals.
- Merk, P. A., Dixon, D. L., Whitmer, E. B., & Martinez, C. L. (2023. Unit 2. Learning About the Brain, Brain Builders for Life: Birth to Three Curriculum Version 2.0. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.More infoThis work is a 30-slide PowerPoint presentation for the 16-hour early brain development curriculum for parents and early childhood professionals. It has been submitted to peer review.
- Merk, P. A., Martinez, C. L., Wilson, H., Curley, D. L., Wyatt, M. A., & Dixon, A. L. (2023. Unit 1. Nature and Nurture, Brain Builders for Life: Birth to Three Curriculum, Version 2.0. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.More infoThis work is a 27-slide PowerPoint presentation for page the 16-hour early brain development curriculum for parents and early childhood professionals. It has been submitted to peer review.
- Merk, P. A., Whitmer, E. B., & Martinez, C. L. (2023. Unit 3. Social and Emotional Development, Brain Builders for Life: Birth to Three Curriculum Version 2.0. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.More infoThis work is a 48-slide PowerPoint presentation for the 16-hour early brain development curriculum for parents and early childhood professionals. It has been submitted to peer review.
