Cheryl Baldwin is an Extension Specialist working in the area of community youth development. Cheryl carries out applied research and program evaluation projects throughout the Northwest Region that enhance the quality and efficiency of a wide range of 4-H youth programs. Her research examines the adoption of research-based practices by youth workers and the integration of social science theory, research, and methods into youth development practice. In addition, her curricular expertise is in the area of psychological health and wellness of children and adolescents including: developing youths' motivation and self-regulated behavior, developing hobbies and personal interests that foster the constructive use of free time, and building youth's social-emotional, cooperative, and leadership skills.

Cheryl earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she studied the developmental consequences of adolescents' free time choices. She holds a master's degree from the University of Minnesota and an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse.