Judith Chitwood began her dance training in the Chicago area with Stephanie Clemens, Kay Johnson and Larry Long. She pursued further study at the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, where she studied the Horton technique of modern dance under James Truitte. Her professional experiences include being a former member of the Cincinnati Ballet Company and the PBS filming of Ruth Page’s ballet, "Alice in Wonderland". She also performs Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman reconstructions with the Oak Park, Illinois based modern dance company, MOMENTA. Previous to her appointment at Northern Illinois University, she taught at the University of Cincinnati and Kansas State University. In 1990, she received the William L. Stamey Undergraduate Teaching Award from Kansas State University. She is a member of Theta Alpha Phi; American Association of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the American Association of University Women, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Doris Humphrey Society and the Fox River Dance Company.