Faculty & Staff Details
Judith Jetson
Program Director /Collaborative for Children, Families and Communities
Division of Administration
Brief Biography
Judi Jetson has been a researcher, facilitator and community developer for 30 years. A member of the USF faculty, she has been Director of the USF Collaborative for Children, Families and Communities since 1998. Established in 1996, the Collaborative is a university-wide organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, families and neighborhoods in the Tampa Bay area. It serves as a central connecting point for community groups and faculty, provides seed money for new research partnerships, holds conferences on best practices, brings speakers to campus and community, and produces a newsletter to increase communication between USF researchers and community organizations. The Collaborative has five Core activities: Faculty Grants, Annual Conference, Summer Internships, Research Day, and Distinguished Speakers.
Judi received her MA in Speech Communication and Human Relations from the University of Kansas, with an emphasis on theories of social conflict and group dynamics. Her professional career has concentrated on connecting communities, government, and universities. Prior to joining USF in 1998, she ran a consulting firm specializing in downtown revitalization. And before she moved to Florida in 1989, Judi spent 10 years in development and economic development research for state elected officials with the Council of State Governments, bringing university and think-tank generated research and knowledge to bear on state policies and programs. Judi also spent two years studying the importance and impact of small business development on local economies while on special assignment with the US Small Business Administration.
Judi is Principal Investigator on 2 new USF programs:
- Service-Learning Leadership Academy, an impact grant received from Florida Campus Compact to increase connections between students, community leaders, and non-profit organizations.
- Community Real Estate Development Program, a training and technical assistance program for non-profits, funded by the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County.
