One of the University of South Florida’s (USF) most well-known and accomplished alumni, Judge Julianna Michelle Childs, U.S. Circuit Judge for the Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia, recently visited the Judy Genshaft Honors College where she spoke to students about her impressive experiences in the field of law. That same night Judge Childs received the USF 2023 Alumni Award for her accomplishments as a judge and attorney, as well as her dedication to building a better world through advocacy for equality.
A TRAILBLAZING CAREER
Throughout the course of her education and career Judge Childs has continually broken boundaries through her fierce commitment to justice. After graduating from USF in 1988 with a degree in management, Childs received her Juris Doctor and M.A. in personal and employment relations from the University of South Carolina.
“Meeting Judge Childs reminded me of why I am a proud student of the Honors College. It re-instilled in me the fact that with enough dedication, anything is possible.” - Preston Kifer, Honors Student
Determined to pursue her passion for law in her home state of South Carolina, Childs was made an associate at Nexus Pruet Law Firm. In 2000, she was promoted to partner at Nexus Pruet as she became the first Black woman to partner at a major South Carolina law firm. Childs’ trailblazing career only continued to impact more lives from there as she was appointed to the State District Court of South Carolina by former president Barack Obama in 2010, promoted to the Court of Appeals in 2022, and named as a potential nominee for a position on the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden in 2021.
DEVOTED TO INSPIRE
Eager to promote education and to inspire students, Childs spent time sharing her story with a class of Honors students and engaged in a small group discussion with student leaders interested in politics and government. “She is a vibrant storyteller and a dedicated change maker, and it translated wonderfully into our interaction.” said Tampa Judy Genshaft Honors College Student Council President Audra Nikolajski.
Students interested in pursuing a career in law should explore the Honors 3+3 Bachelor’s/J.D. or 4+3 Bachelor’s/J.D. partnership with Stetson University College of Law, and first-year students interested in civic leadership can check out the new Wilcox Scholars Program.