Did you know these fun facts about Judy Macke?
Born in Cincinnati, I have lived in Ohio and Michigan my entire life. I have three adult children and six grandchildren between the ages of 1-7. I’m one of nine siblings, falling just short of my husband who is one of eleven. Family reunions require a hall rental!
I’ve worked at Miami for nearly nine years, merging into Global Initiatives from Lifelong Learning. I’m the Program Manager for the Institute for Learning in Retirement, a continuing education program for our senior learners, age 50+. We offer two, five-week semesters of programming per year on five sites—Oxford, Fairfield, Hamilton, Monroe and West Chester. Since 2010, our program’s size has doubled and the enrollment continues to shatter records. This year is no exception; it’s shaping up to be our seventh consecutive record-breaking year. We now offer an average of 75 courses and events per semester, keeping our retirees (and me) very busy.
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, which usually includes walking, hiking or cycling. I’ve recently checked a big item off of my bucket list—riding a century (bicycling 100 miles in a day). My most memorable ride was in Anchorage, AK, a ride that came to a screeching halt when I rounded a bend to find a mama moose and her calf on opposite sides of the trail. Since you never put yourself between a mom and her baby, it became a long waiting game.
I’ve traveled throughout the United States (including Alaska), the Caribbean (Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico), Mexico, Canada, and Bermuda. I’m looking forward to my first European riverboat cruise this summer, traveling up the Rhine River to Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We’ll end the trip with a three-day stay in Amsterdam. After living in Holland, MI, for three years, I’m looking forward to visiting the “real” Holland.
I’m not one who likes to vacation in the same spot every year. My kids will tell you that my vacations are usually far from relaxing (for them), because I won’t waste time sitting on a beach when there’s so much more to see, do, and discover.
