Empowering the next generation of problem-solvers

Hi, I’m Dr. Marsha Tufft—engineer, author, educator, and passionate advocate for building the “choice muscle” in kids.

After 35 years as an aerospace engineer at GE Aviation and earning my Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, I discovered my biggest teaching breakthrough came from an unexpected source: training my golden retriever, Mooney, to surf in the ocean at 18 weeks old.

The behavioral science principles I used—breaking goals into tiny steps, rewarding progress, treating mistakes as information—revealed something powerful: These same techniques are exactly what’s missing in how we teach kids.

My Mission:

Help parents, educators, and kids understand that the most important skill for the future isn’t perfection—it’s the ability to choose, fail safely, and grow.

What I do:

📚 Write award-winning STEM fiction (Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures) – because stories change attitudes

🔬 Create hands-on STEM experiments (Putney Hicks Inventors Club) – because there’s nothing like learning by doing

🎤 Speak about building resilient problem-solvers – through TEDx talks, workshops, and STEM programs

🐾 Train dogs (and teach parents!) – applying behavioral science to build confidence, one choice at a time

The “Choice Muscle” Framework:

✔️ Address motivation first

✔️ Break big goals into manageable steps

✔️ Notice what you like 5x more than what you don’t

✔️ Celebrate small wins

✔️ Treat failure as information, not punishment

When we give kids the freedom to choose, fail safely, and learn, we shape future leaders who can handle complexity, uncertainty, and the challenges of tomorrow.

Speaking & Stage Experience

✅ “Think Like an Engineer: A Problem-Solving Approach to Learning”

Midwest Homeschool Expo – Indianapolis, Indiana (June 2025)

✅ Keynote Speaker – International Conference on Shot Peening, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (2002)

✅ International Conference Presenter – Warsaw, Poland (1999); San Francisco, CA (1996)

✅ Published Speaker – SAE Aerospace International Conference, Dayton, OH (1993)

“Maximizing the Impact of Technical Education” – Selected for publication in Transactions of the SAE*

✅ TEDx Speaker Applicant – Crafting talks on building the “choice muscle” in the next generation

✅ Technical Education Leader – Trained 50+ GE Aviation instructors in evidence-based teaching methods

✅ STEM Workshop Facilitator – Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Year of the Girl summer camps (1,000+ girls reached)

✅ Award-Winning Educator

2021 GE Aviation Outstanding Retiree Award
2018 GE Volunteers Award
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Appreciation Pin

✅ Ph.D., Materials Engineering | M.S., Aerospace Engineering | B.S., Mechanical Engineering

✅ 35 Years Problem-Solving at GE Aviation – Saved $12M through systematic engineering solutions

Stories That Build Problem-Solvers

Because stories change attitudes before skills can be taught.

The Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures is an award-winning middle grade fiction series set on Hilton Head Island, where 11-year-old inventor Putney tackles real-world challenges using science, creativity, and a whole lot of trial and error.

What makes Putney different?

✨ She fails. A lot. And that’s the point. Readers see that mistakes are part of the process, not something to fear.

✨ She solves real problems – buoyancy, flight, energy, conservation – using STEM principles woven naturally into the story.

✨ She thinks like an engineer – breaking big challenges into small experiments, testing hypotheses, and iterating until it works.

✨ She has help from S.A.M. – her advanced AI assistant in the Magic eyePad (think snarky Siri meets engineering mentor).

Perfect for:

Kids (ages 8–12) who love hands-on projects, animals, or adventure
Parents and teachers looking for books that inspire STEM thinking
Reluctant readers who want action, humor, and a hero who isn’t perfect

Each book includes:

A gripping story with relatable characters
Real STEM concepts explained through action
Inspiration to try your own experiments

👉 Explore the Books → https://marshatufft.com/books

Get your FREE copy of Project S.A.M. (Prequel) → https://marshatufft.com/project-sam/

Putney Hicks Inventors Club (Projects & Experiments)

Learn By Doing: STEM Experiments You Can Try at Home

Because there’s nothing like learning by doing !

The Putney Hicks Inventors Club brings the experiments from the books to life with step-by-step guides, videos, and hands-on projects you can do with items you already have at home.