In 1978, Wadeson began teaching at the University of Houston, where she became director of its Art Therapy Graduate Program. In 1980, she was recruited by the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). where she directed the Art Therapy Graduate Program for 23 years. One of Wadeson's biggest contributions at the University of Illinois at Chicago was the “Annual Summer Institute”, which was held at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This program continued for 20 years. Wadeson developed and currently directs the art therapy program at Northwestern University.