Dr. Woolfork-Barnes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied behavioral analysis and a minor in Africana Studies (then Black Americana Studies) in 1982 from Western Michigan University. She also holds a 1984 master's degree in industrial organizational psychology and 1993 a doctor of education in educational leadership with an emphasis in human resource development both from Western Michigan University. Following her undergraduate education at WMU, she worked briefly as a Community Education Specialist in Gary Community Mental Health, Gary, Indiana.

From 1984-1987 she served as Assistant Director of the Upward Bound Program and from 1987-1988 Director, King-Chavez, Parks Program both at WMU. She was Director of the Upward Bound Program at WMU between 1988 and 2004 and she was instrumental in securing and directing a federally funded project to the tune of $4 million over four grant cycles (1988-2004). She also worked with the Science and Mathematics Program Improvement project for six years as a research associate and has been an adjunct faculty member since 1993. She taught courses for Africana Studies Program as an adjunct faculty between 1996 and 2006.

She is currently the Director of First Year Experience Programs at WMU. As director of First Year Experience (FYE) Programs, Dr. Woolfork-Barnes is responsible for administering three distinct first-year transitional and adjustment programs for over 3,600 new first-year students with a focus on student yield and retention. She facilitates the recruitment and coordination of professional development for FYE faculty, staff and student leaders. She works closely with faculty, university administrators, staff, current and prospective students and their parents and the general public to facilitate planning, implementation, and assessment of programs.