Dr. Chelsea Toner returns for her 8th year as a technician with Origins Performing Arts, bringing a wealth of experience, passion, and artistry to the program. Chelsea’s color guard journey began in 2008, performing with ATX Winterguard in Independent A class until 2015, and marching with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 2011–2014.

Since aging out, Chelsea has shared her expertise with numerous scholastic programs across Texas, including McNeil High School (2013–2019) and Cedar Ridge High School (2017–2018).

Off the field/floor, Chelsea’s dedication to education shines just as brightly. A proud graduate of Texas State University, she earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and Microbiology before moving to Denver, CO, to pursue her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder, which she completed in Spring 2024. She now serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the University’s Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) Department; teaching Cellular Biology to upper division undergraduate students.

During her doctoral studies, Chelsea co-founded and grew the Science Community Outreach Program and Education (S.C.O.P.E.), a Biochemistry outreach initiative designed to bring science education to underrepresented middle schools in the Boulder area. Through S.C.O.P.E., she helped establish a board of directors to expand leadership opportunities, curriculum development, and funding for the program—fostering a lasting culture of community engagement. Today, she continues this mission through active involvement in MCDB student organizations and a teaching consortium focused on course-based undergraduate research experiences.

In 2024, Chelsea was named Color Guard Co-Caption Head for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps alongside her great friend, Kevin Monteiro. She returned as Caption Head in 2025 and after a successful summer, is already set to return for the 2026 season.

When she’s not teaching guard or mentoring students, Chelsea can be found enjoying life in Colorado with her partner and dogs—whether hiking, playing disc golf, or roller blading. Indoors, she’s an avid gamer and enjoys exploring new television series. No matter the setting, Chelsea approaches every experience as an opportunity to learn, grow, and share her knowledge with others. She can't wait for the 2026 season to begin!