Chelsea Wooding

Inspired by her mentors to teach, Dr. Chelsea Wooding overcame a fear of public speaking to pursue a career in the classroom. “I see it as a great honor to get to walk through courses with students, and there is something very special about everyone being in a space to learn together,” she says.

Wooding shapes her classroom into a safe environment where students can ask questions, challenge their beliefs, and step out of their comfort zones. She offers students suggestions, guidance, and resources while encouraging autonomy and freedom in their educational pursuits.

Providing students with experiential learning opportunities, Wooding incorporates numerous hands-on activities into her courses. Through meaningful activities, students learn how to apply theories, determine the benefits, and develop mental performance skills. She also teaches students how spiritual health plays an important role in our lives.

Seeking to prepare students for future careers, she says, “My goal in teaching is to help students develop a desire to be life-long learners, how to be critical consumers of information, and how to apply information from their time at North Park into their lives.”

Favorite Quote

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” —Theodore Roosevelt.

Hobbies and Interests

I was a pre-professional dancer growing up, so I still very much love dance and that community. I am also part of the teaching team at my church — Real Church Chicago. During my down time, I love exploring with my spouse, Daron, and going on hikes with our two dogs.

Fun Fact

I absolutely love rollercoasters! Some of my favorite places to go are Six Flags and Cedar Point, particularly when there is a new coaster to try.

Recent Publications

Wooding, C.B., & Cranney, A.C. (2019). Every Count Matters Mindset Training for Dancers. FiT Publishing. https://fitpublishing.com/books/every-count-matters-mindset-training-dancers