Barbara Judy

Barbara Judy was inducted into the College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. She was previously recognized as an Outstanding Alumna by the College of Education and Human Services in 2005.

Judy served as the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator for the state of West Virginia and was a longtime president and chair of the board for the National Association of ADA Coordinators. She played a critical role in the creation and national recognition of the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) at West Virginia University, a pioneering service that provides consultation to employers on workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Judy began her career in health care after earning her nursing degree from Temple University Hospital School of Nursing in 1955. She later completed both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in counseling and guidance at West Virginia University in 1978. She served WVU as director of ADA Compliance and taught courses in special education, counseling psychology, and rehabilitation counseling.

Her influence extended to national service, including 15 years with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Presidential Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. She was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Persons with Disabilities and received the Clara Barton Honor Award from the American Red Cross. She was also named an official “Patriot from West Virginia” by the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

At WVU, Judy was granted Faculty Emeritus status in 2004 and was later appointed to the University’s Diversity Visiting Committee, contributing to efforts to create a more inclusive campus culture. She also chaired the Governor’s Olmstead Task Force and served on the Governor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities.