Research Interests
Advocacy for access to playful and creative learning opportunities for children in urban schools
Family Literacy FunPacks
Urban Education
Multicultural Education

Teacher Preparation
Playground Development

Selected Publications
Lamm, S; Groulx, J, Hansen, C. Patton, M. M. & Jimenez-Slaton, A. (2006). Creating environments for peaceful problem solving.  Young Children, 61 (6), 22-28.

Powell-Mikle, A. & Patton, M. M. (2004). Meaningful learning with African American families: The freedom quilt funpacks.  Childhood Education, 80 (4), 187-190.

Groulx, J. & Patton, M. M. (2003).  Teachers-parents and culturally responsive communication.  Early Years, 25 (1), 6-7.

Adcock, S. & Patton, M. M. (2001).  Views of effective early childhood educators regarding systemic constraints that affect their teaching.  Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 15 (2), 194-208.

Recent Presentations
Patton, M. M. with C. Silva (October, 2004). The FunPack Connection: A unique home-based family literacy experience. Texas Association of Bilingual Educators, El Paso, TX.

Patton, M. M. with C. Silva & A. Arnold (October, 2004).  The Invitation to Collaborate: WSISD and TCU.  Texas Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Corpus Christi, TX.

Groulx, J., Patton, M. M. & Lamm, S. (2004, April). Connect 4 Success: Evaluating a model for training childcare providers in violence reduction and conflict resolution. American Educational Research Association Conference, San Diego, CA.

Patton, M. M., Groulx, J. & Lamm, S. (2004, March).  Connect 4 Success: A model for training childcare providers in violence reduction and conflict resolution.  NACCRA Policy Symposium, Washington, D.C.

Patton, M. M. (2004, February).  KinderFrogs School: Early education for children with Down Syndrome and other developmental delays.  European Teachers Education Network Annual Meeting, Viana de Castelo, Portugal.

Patton, M. M., & Patterson, L. (2003, April).  Rethinking homework.  Association for Childhood Education International Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.

Professional Affiliations
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
Texas Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
Association for Childhood Education International

Professional Development
Development Leadership Workshop, Bill McGoldrick, San Antonio, TX.  August 2008

Association of Fund Raising Professionals Philanthropy Conference, Arlington, TX. June 2008

Texas Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Dean's Conference, Kerrville, TX.  May 2008

Best Practices Dialogue Conference, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX. May 2008

Women and Leadership, Texas Women in Higher Education Annual Conference, San Marcos, TX.  April 2008

CASE Conference: Development for Deans Conference, Jacksonville, FL., February, 2007
Play Therapy Conference, Denton, TX., October, 2007
Play Therapy Conference, Denton, TX., October, 2006

Texas Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Dean's Conference, San Antonio, TX.  October 2006
 
Professional Service
Reviewer, Childhood Education, theme issue, 2009-1010, Association of Childhood Education.
Evaluator, Diversity Initiatives, Oklahoma State Universitiy, Office of Institutional Diversity, 2007.
Member-At-Large, Texas Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, 2007-2009.
President, Texas Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, 2004-2006.
Reviewer, Early Years journal, Texas Association for the Education of Young Children. 2004 to 2006.
Vice President, Texas Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, 2002-2004.
Co-evaluator with Judy Groulx, First Texas Camp Fire - Early Childhood Violence Reduction Project, entitled “Connect4Success,” funded by the U.S Department of Education (OMB control # 1890-0004), 2003 to 2005.
Vice President, Fort Worth Area Association for the Education of Young Children, 2000-2001.

Honors & Awards
Finalist, Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community; 2008, 2004, 2000
Nominee, Wassenich Award for Mentoring in the TCU Community; 2003, 2002, 2001,1999
Golden Key Honorary Member. 2007
 “Natural Helper” Campus Mentor, 2002
Dean’s Teaching Award, 2001
Recipient, Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Friends of Education, School of Education, TCU, 2000