Chief Edith Hudson, head of the Marquette University Police Department, shares her powerful story of resilience, faith, and leadership. As the eldest child of hardworking parents, Edith faced many challenges, but a pivotal moment came when a colleague questioned her ability to succeed in law enforcement. That doubt fueled her determination, leading to a successful 25-year career. Edith reflects on how her identity as a Black woman and her deep faith in God have shaped her compassionate, community-focused approach to policing. She talks about Ignatian-inspired policing, where recognizing God in everyone guides her to treat people with dignity and respect. Edith also highlights the importance of self-care, through practices like silence and forgiveness, and hopes to encourage more women of color to enter law enforcement and drive meaningful change from within. Tune in to hear her inspiring journey and insights that could reshape your perspective on leadership and community policing.Episode Highlights03:00 - I have many layers to my identity, as many women do. But I think my faith, my relationship with God, and my adoration and love for Jesus are really the foundation of my identity. I identify as Black, African American, because that’s what this country defines me as. I also identify as a woman, with many layers—mother, friend, and my work is another layer. I think responsibility for many people is also part of those layers. But my faith in God is truly the foundation of who I am and what I enjoy most about my identity.09:13 - One of the things that was really appealing to me about Marquette's police department was that it was new and different. I refer to it as Ignatian-inspired policing, and I believe that existed before I came there. Being a student and immersed in the spiritual exercises has really helped me understand that God truly is in everything. He is in all people, and if we take the time to look for God in everyone, we treat others differently. The individuals who come to us—whether they are homeless, in the midst of a mental health crisis, or struggling with drug addiction—they're God's children too. They need respect, to be treated fairly, and to be seen. In my opinion, if we don't subscribe to the Ignatian values that our university stands on, then we're not doing our community the service they deserve.21:13 - My hope for the future is that women of color realize the exercises are for you too. There's no specific group of people the exercises are made for; it's not just for Catholic women or Catholic men. The exercises are for everyone, and there's something freeing in them. My hope is that more women of color will take advantage of the exercises and receive that free gift that God gives usInterviewWhat is your story?01:28 - My story, I think, is very much like many of the stories of women that we see, not only at Marquette, but across the city of Milwaukee and across the country. I didn’t find my current job, my current vocation, until some things happened in life that really weren’t the easiest of things. So I can't say it was an easy journey, but it truly has been a very fulfilling journey. Hopefully, it's a story that will help other women. I had the privilege of being the child of two very hard workers who came up through Mississippi and ended up in Gary, Indiana. We moved around a little, and we ended up here in Milwaukee. Along the way, we really experienced the highs and lows of life, but through faith, family, and love, we made it to a good place.How do you identify?03:00 - I have many layers to my identity, as many women do. But I think my faith, my relationship with God, my adoration, and my love for Jesus is really the foundation of my identity. I identify as Black...

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