Cara Sidman
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Phone: 602-496-1601
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550 N 3rd St Phoenix, AZ 85004
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Mail code: 9020Campus: Dtphx
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Dr. Cara Sidman is a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Health Solutions with more than 25 years of experience teaching large, required well-being courses within the college core and general education curriculum.
Her academic work focuses on innovations in well-being education, curriculum design, micro-experiential learning, and small teaching strategies. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes playful experimentation, curiosity, and felt learning, grounded in learning and brain science.
Dr. Sidman’s research centers on the development and study of Well-Being Experiment Cards®, an innovative micro-experiential teaching tool currently used in university courses to promote curiosity, growth mindset, and well-being skills, with supporting data from an initial study and a manuscript in progress.
Her teaching and research blend the art and science of well-being, reimagining more accessible, inclusive, and embodied approaches to teaching well-being and human flourishing.
- Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Exercise & Wellness, Arizona State University 2002
- M.S. Exercise Science, Appalachian State University 1996
- B.A. Physical Education and Health, University of North Carolina Wilmington 1994
Dr. Sidman’s early research examined multidimensional wellness and behavior-related outcomes among college students and adults, including mindfulness, happiness, exercise self-efficacy, sedentary behavior, perceived wellness, and course delivery formats. As well-being science and student needs have evolved, her focus has shifted toward the design and study of innovative, skill-building approaches to well-being education.
Her current pedagogical research explores the role of play and tiny experiments in learning, including the development and study of her original Well-Being Experiment Cards®. This work examines how micro-experiential practices can foster curiosity, growth mindsets, and well-being skills.
Overall, her work integrates the art and science of well-being to reimagine education through innovative, inclusive, and accessible teaching tools that respond to contemporary student mental health challenges while building capacity for resilience and felt intelligence in support of human flourishing.
Courses
2026 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
2025 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 100 | Optimizing Health&Performance |
| CHS 100 | Optimizing Health&Performance |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | An Exploration of Well-Being |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 280 | Exptl Comm Hlth & Research |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 484 | Internship |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CHS 100 | Optimizing Health&Performance |
| CHS 100 | Optimizing Health&Performance |
| CHS 100 | Optimizing Health&Performance |
| CHS 100 | Optimizing Health&Performance |
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| CHS 300 | The Science of Well-Being |
| NTR 302 | Digital Technologies Nutrition |
| NTR 302 | Digital Technologies Nutrition |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
| CHS 394 | Special Topics |
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