Chelsey focuses on a variety of life issues to promote health and wellness across the lifespan for both individuals and families. In the framework of family relationships, she emphasizes stress management, brain health, healthy aging, intergenerational relations, adult caregiving, and family communication.  Her community based, research supported workshops extend to a variety of audiences in her counties and across the state including professional staff, adults of all ages, family caregivers and others.  Through her engaging approach to teaching life skills to others, Chelsey’s goal is to promote healthy lifestyle decisions, effective family communication, and management of life transitions. 

Chelsey was first hired as an Adult Life and Aging Educator for Kankakee County (2007-2011) and then served as a Family Life Educator for Grundy, Kankakee and Will Counties (2011-2012). Since Fall of 2012, she has served as the Family Life Educator for Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties. Her educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a Master's Degree in Gerontology from Eastern Illinois University.

Prior to her service with Extension, Chelsey Byers worked as a Professional Education Coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association, St. Louis Chapter. In that role, she was responsible for curriculum development and education for healthcare workers, emergency responders, and family members about various aspects of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. She was actively involved in the planning of and presenting at regional and state conferences. Before getting her Master's Degree, Byers was an Activity Therapist on the Alzheimer's/Dementia Unit at the Illinois Veteran's Home in Manteno, IL.

Professional Affiliations:

National Extension Association Family & Consumer Sciences, American Society on Aging, Sigma Phi Omega, Epsilon Sigma Phi