By Sarah Chen, November 2014
For Judith Brown, “Everything is about relationships.”
As she retraces her professional life and the people she has encountered across Tucson, that’s easy to see. She’s done it all – development, education, strategic planning, public relations, event planning, media, fundraising – with assignments stretching from the University of Arizona to the city of Tucson and back again. Meanwhile, the common Jewish thread connects it altogether for her. “Judaism has always been an important part of me,” she says.
As the current director of development and community affairs for the University of Arizona’s College of Nursing, she brings together donors and administrators in fruitful ways to benefit students. She has worked at the University of Arizona for more than 10 years, first as a director of development for the Program in Integrated Medicine, then transitioning to the College of Nursing.
Of the university, Brown says “I have loved raising money for nursing. These students are truly the future of health care. I am so proud of our reinvigorated alumni, who are giving more than ever before. The college has such generous donors. Meeting them has enriched my life greatly.”
Prior to her life in development, Brown worked for 20 years at the City of Tucson as the director of community relations, under then City Manager Joe Valdez, to market the city and liaise with the public. During her tenure she was the producer and host of “Topic of Tucson,” a weekly news show on KGUN- 9 that spotlighted Tucson luminaries and personalities. She also hosted a weekly radio show syndicated throughout southern Arizona, and her office produced a weekly city events page in the Arizona Daily Star. “I totally adored making a difference in the community,” says Brown. “I loved every single one of the years I spent at the city, and I met amazing people. I am very blessed.” Brown is an emeritus member of the Arizona Public Media Community Advisory Board.
A classically trained harpist, Brown never imagined her life would be so consumed with public relations. “I was recruited to Tucson from Boston in the 1970s, where I had just completed my master’s degree in art history,” she recalls. “I was drawn to the newly founded Center for Creative Photography at UA, as my concentration was modern photography at the time.” The university originally recruited her to coordinate conferences, a role Brown remembers loving. “All the academic departments were doing such cutting-edge research,” she says. “So I was always learning new things and meeting the most interesting people.”
Judaism has guided and shaped Brown’s lifetime of professional accomplishments. She feels particularly passionate about the concept of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. “I feel that we’re just caretakers of the Earth while we’re here,” she says. “For me this means taking whatever gifts we’ve been given and using them to help others.”
Brown believes this means being as non-judgmental, caring and intentional as possible with everyday interactions. An active practitioner of the Japanese healing and relaxation practice, Reiki, she believes that “energy is intelligent. We have to take our divine energy and channel it positively.” Brown was recently asked to participate in the newly formed Health and Wellness Task Force at Tucson’s Jewish Community Center. “It is really exciting to work with a dynamic group and envision what wellness is over and above health,” she says. Brown is a former executive board member of Tucson’s JCC, and she is happy to re-engage.
Lately, Brown’s Jewish engagement led her to participate in Rabbi Telushkin’s book-signing event as he marketed his new book, Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History. “Although I have deep roots in Reform Judaism, I have always enjoyed learning from and immersing myself in other traditions, like Chabad,” Brown says. “And I haven’t been able to put the book down.” Brown served as president of Congregation Chaverim from 2000 to 2001.
Brown plans to retire next year. For her, this is significant because her retirement will coincide with the shmita, or sabbatical year, in Israel. The shmita is a religious and ecological year of rest occurring once every seven years, during which it is traditional to forgive all financial debts and to refrain from planting or harvesting agricultural crops.
“I love this concept,” says Brown. “I intend to do exactly that, to let it rest. I’ll treat the year as it’s truly intended, spiritually speaking. Afterwards, I’ll see what percolates up.” As she moves forward, Brown references Maimonides as she intends to embrace the “spark of Jewish life.” “I only see Judaism becoming more and more meaningful to me.”
Sarah Chen is a freelance writer in Tucson.
– See more at: https://azjewishlife.com/2014/nov/lifestyle/charitable-giving#sthash.XJpMZ31X.dpuf
