Dr. Patricia "Pat" Obenauf (1932-2017)
Pat attended Alverno College and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. She then began her professional career by teaching elementary and secondary math and science in schools in the Midwest and throughout the Mississippi Delta. After obtaining her Ed.D. in science education and curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1973, she began her higher education career at WVU.
Dr. Obenauf began her tenure at WVU College of Education and Human Services. She served as a professor, administrator, researcher, advisor, and scholar for over forty years. She retired as a professor emeritus in Curriculum and Instruction. She chaired nearly 80 doctoral student committees and served as Principle Investigator on several grants, including the WV Department of Education's Coordinated and Thematic Science (CATS) grant for $1.2 million and the National Science Foundation NRAO Green Bank Radio Astronomy Research Experiences for $4 million. In October 2016, she was inducted into the WVU Hall of Frame.
Pat conducted workshops for teachers, developed the Block Program and helped develop the West Virginia goals for science education in elementary, middle and high schools. She also served as president of the West Virginia Science Teachers Association.
