Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Alumna of the Year Judy Tudor, BSW '94, MSW '97, is a child welfare training specialist under the Nevada Partnership for Training grant. She also has more than 20 years of experience working in child welfare and foster care in Nevada. She has been sharing her experiences while teaching graduate and undergraduate social work classes at UNLV since 2013.
Tell us about a moment when someone showed you unexpected kindness. How do you pay it forward?
I truly believe that I have been blessed by random acts of kindness on a daily basis, so coming up with one was very difficult. However, one that truly stands out to me was during a difficult time when I was caring for my stepfather who had recently been placed in hospice care.
I got the call that he passed away one morning when I was at work. I saw a colleague, named Ann, who could tell I was distraught and immediately dropped everything and offered to drive me to the care center. She stayed with me just holding my hand and comforting me throughout the whole day as I grieved the loss of my stepfather.
Her sacrifice to support me through this difficult moment was something I have never forgotten. As a result of Ann’s kindness, I try to focus on people and not tasks. I am sure she had other plans that day, but she dropped everything to be there for me in my time of need. I have tried to emulate this kindness with others by being aware of their needs and willing to provide whatever they need in that moment.
Seeing child welfare from every vantage point
Judy Tudor is a child welfare training specialist under the Nevada Partnership for Training grant, a partnership between UNLV, UNR, and the Division of Child and Family Services as well as local child welfare agencies across the state. Under the grant, Tudor and others provide education for new and existing child welfare workers in addition to conducting free trainings for community partners working with children and families.
An alumna of the Nevada foster care system herself, Tudor worked in child welfare in Las Vegas for five years providing direct services for foster care and adoptions, and another five years providing supervision over foster care and child protection units. She also managed various child welfare programs for 10 years and serves as a court-appointed special advocate volunteer for children navigating the foster care system. Tudor is also a member of Foster Care Alumni of America.
Tudor has taught UNLV undergraduate practicum classes and served as a field liaison for practicum students, and currently teaches a supervision in social work class for graduate students.
