Emery Judkins is one of the newest Redhawks this year. She is teaching Business Law, Survey of Business Marketing, and Finance. She is also head coaching the JV volleyball team. She grew up in Waco and went to college at Stephen F. Austin for one year, then transferred to Odessa College for two years, and then transferred to the University of Louisiana for three years. She got her masters in Finance and her undergraduate in Business.
Wingspan: What made you decide to work here on campus?
Judkins: “So actually there was this Liberty High School alum, her name is Lauryn Hill– if y’all know who that is. She told me that Dobbins, the head volleyball coach here, needed an assistant coach and then I reached out to her and that’s how I came here to Liberty!”
Wingspan: Could you tell me about your experience with volleyball?
Judkins: “I started playing volleyball in 8th grade. Then, I played in highschool so my freshman year was on JV and then after my freshman year, I was Varsity and I think it was my sophomore year I started to play club volleyball. After club, I just really loved it and then went off to do it in college.”
Wingspan: What are your students learning in your classes?
Judkins: “Right now, they are leaning about business characteristics and last week we did a project and skit on professionalism in the workplace.”
Wingspan: Since it is your first year coaching, were you kind of nervous going into it?
Judkins: “I was kind of nervous because since I’ve been playing volleyball and I’ve had like a bunch of different coaches, I kind of just like leared stuff that I liked and some that I didn’t like and just didn’t want to come in and be like one of those coaches that the players just hate. So, I wanted to be a good coach.”
Wingspan: Could you describe a typical day in your life as a teacher/coach?
Judkins: “Yes, I wake up super early in the morning around 6:00 or before since our practices are really early, we have first period volleyball. Straight after I have second period every day and I am always late and my kids complain about it every day but, the gym is far from my class so yeah. I teach two classes a day and that’s about it.
Wingspan: What has the volleyball season been like so far?
Judkins: “My experience with volleyball this season has been really good, I came in not really knowing the skill level of any of the players and then like just being with them I can tell they work so hard and I feel like their skill level has tremendously increased since the first time I saw them. Literally just two weeks in, they’re doing so much better andI just can’t wait to see how well they excel by the end of the season!”
Wingspan: What has been your favorite part of this year so far?
Judkins: “I would have to say the students, I really enjoy being around them. I think they’re really funny and smart and they really make my day go a lot better!”
