Tammy Wynard

      Tammy is a creative public health and education advocate with experience in teaching, leadership, curriculum mapping, sexual health education, and trauma-informed practices. Her research agenda focuses on the professional preparation of knowledge and skills related to trauma-informed practices with those planning on or currently working in the education, human service, and health disciplines. She is the Program Director of the online graduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Educational Practices for Children & Adolescents and the online Master of Arts degree in Trauma-Informed Practice. Both programs are designed to create change agents who use a trauma-informed approach in the community and schools.
      Tammy earned an undergraduate degree in Community Health Education from Illinois State University and a graduate degree in School and College Health Education from Indiana University. In addition, she has enjoyed a diverse work experience as a Health Educator in Public Health and School Health, having worked for a large health department, in a hospital setting, and as a middle and high school health education teacher. These firsthand, real-world experiences led Tammy to higher education, where she began preparing the next cadre of health and education professionals while consulting with community leaders on creating positive change so children and families can thrive. 
      Since 2004, Tammy has taught face-to-face and online and began as a full-time faculty member at North Central College in 2011. Tammy was appointed Department Chair of Kinesiology in the summer of 2016, overseeing the academic disciplines of Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Sport Management, and Health Science. Her role as Department Chair of Health Sciences, leading faculty in Sport Management, Health Science, and Nutrition Science, and her position as Interim Director of Graduate Leadership Programs began in the summer of 2020. She cycled off her role as Chair in May of 2022 to concentrate on her Ph.D. studies in Health Sciences at Northern Illinois University.

Please follow the links below for programs with which Tammy is directly involved at North Central College.

Trauma-Informed Practice Programs - https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/program/trauma-informed-practices

Health Science Major https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/program/health-science

Community Health Promotion Minor https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/program/community-health-promotion

Selected Scholarship

Douglas Ellison, Tammy Wynard, Jennifer L. Walton-Fisette & Sarah Benes (2020) Preparing the Next Generation of Health and Physical Educators through Trauma-Informed Programs, Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 91:9, 30-40, DOI: 10.1080/07303084.2020.1811623

Tammy Wynard, Sarah Benes & Kevin Lorson (2020) Trauma-Sensitive Practices in Health Education, Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 91:9, 22-29, DOI: 10.1080/07303084.2020.1811622

Tammy Wynard (2020) The Quiver of the Pandemic Unknowns: Trauma-Informed Resources, Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 91:7, 56-57, DOI: 10.1080/07303084.2020.1785774

Benes, S., Lorson, & Wynard. T. (2020, April). Strategies on becoming a trauma-informed health education classroom. Society of Health & Physical Educators (SHAPE) America, Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT. (Conference canceled, Online webinar presented)

Wynard, T. (2020, March). Constructing evidence based teaching in higher education and professional development on adverse childhood experiences (aces) and trauma informed practices (tips): Influences from the literature and experience. Society for Public Health Education Annual Conference. Atlanta, GA. (Conference canceled, Online Webinar Session presented)

Wynard, T. (2019, March). Prioritizing adverse childhood experiences (aces) and trauma informed practice education in professional preparation programs: Identified gaps and essential action needed. Society for Public Health Education Annual Conference. Salt Lake City, UT.

Wynard, T. (2015, October).All about TED: Ideas worth connecting to your curriculum. Session presented at the annual meeting of the American School Health Association, Orlando, FL.

Courses Taught

MHTS/MEDU 501 Trauma and Its Effects on Health and Learning

MLS 562 Health Care Systems & Advocacy

HTSC 430 Advanced Concepts of Health Program Planning

HTSC 330 Health Behavior and Health Promotion

HTSC 230 Community Health

HTSC 220 School Health & Methods of Physical Activity

HTSC 130 Foundations of Community Health Promotion

BIOL GSST 300 Human Sexuality

IDS 125 Health & Media