by Deborah Haley

If you enroll at Valley City State University, you’ll need to take Psychology 111, a class taught by Katie Woehl, assistant professor of psychology. Professor Woehl is in her sixth year of teaching social science classes at VCSU.

“I love how VCSU is a friendly campus. I love the people I work with, who really enjoy what they teach,” says Woehl. “We’re able to discuss different ideas and teaching approaches together.”

It’s taken Woehl hard work and dedication to get where she is today. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from North Dakota State University (NDSU) and then moved to St. Cloud State University (SCSU), where she earned a master’s degree in special education. After leaving SCSU, she taught at the University of North Dakota (UND) while attending classes in pursuit of both a masters of arts degree and a PhD in experimental psychology. She spent, or rather invested, a total of 10 years in her education.

She also taught at Northland Community and Technical College as an adjunct professor. She has quite the résumé!

Woehl admits to possessing a “nerdy love” of statistics, but from General Psychology 111 to Understanding Statistics 330, she doesn’t consider a particular class her favorite to teach. “I like them all. I can’t just choose one.”

When attending Woehl’s classes, students should be prepared for a variety of activities: from color blindness testing to chain reaction experiments. You never know what to expect! She works hard to keep class interesting and engaging for all her students.

Outside the classroom, Woehl enjoys different recreational activities, including traveling and photography. She also had played percussion in the Valley City Community Orchestra, and works as the faculty advisor to the Human Service and Psychology Club and VCSU. However, her favorite activity is playing with her two kids, a son age three-and-a half and a six-month-old daughter.

With her door open and welcoming, she’s ready to discuss assignments and answer questions, Katie Woehl shows genuine concern and love for her students and their success at VCSU.