Judy Newman
Seeking an international understanding of political science and economics, Judy Newman embarked on a semester abroad in London in 1977 with encouragement from a professor at Connecticut College. From exploring bookshops throughout the city to learning about the national debate on education to writing a thesis on privacy at the London School of Economics, Judy unknowingly laid the foundation for a future career in children’s book publishing. Today, as EVP and President of Scholastic Reading Club and E-Commerce, Judy is making a difference by connecting teachers and students with books and empowering children to succeed academically and beyond. Read on to find out how studying abroad redefined Judy’s life and taught her lessons she continues to draw upon today.
IES Abroad: How did you hear about IES Abroad and what motivated you to study in London?
Judy Newman: I heard about IES Abroad through my advisor at Connecticut College—a fiery and beloved Government professor named William Frasure. Bill made me excited about the idea of a more intensive concentration in my major subjects—political science and economics—and studying them in another country. I knew that to have a real understanding of politics and our emerging global economy, I had to have more of an international perspective than what I was getting in the U.S. alone.
IES Abroad: What are some of your most influential memories from your time in London?
JN: It was a turbulent and exciting time in London: Labor strikes. The Sex Pistols. The Yorkshire Ripper. It was all so interesting! I loved being a student—and being part of our little group of IES Abroad Americans—blending in with all the British students and students from all over the world. We also took in as much as London had to offer, like theater, parties, concerts, museums, lectures, traveling on weekends all over England. The economy was going through rapid inflation, and the political climate was complicated. There was also a roiling national debate on education, which I think, in hindsight, encouraged me to start focusing my attention and my career on children’s books and working with teachers.
IES Abroad: You have worked exclusively in publishing, an industry that has changed dramatically over the course of your career. What motivated you to get into the publishing industry? Were you able to draw on lessons learned in London as you launched your career?
JN: While in London, I did an individual tutorial on privacy at the LSE (London School of Economics and Political Science), which was a semester-long research project culminating in a thesis paper that I had to defend. Issues of privacy are very important in publishing, and I got quite an intellectual and rich foundation from my work on that tutorial. Given the privacy issues surrounding internet use today, I think we were ahead of the curve in doing that work.
Going to school in London means being surrounded by some of the best bookshops in the world and by people who love and appreciate books. I always had a passion for books, so I was very comfortable being in the mix there. Also, England has a rich and wonderful tradition in regard to children’s books, so I think my experiences poring over books in shops all over London accelerated my interest in becoming a children’s book publisher.
And you’re right: In some ways—with Amazon and digital book formats—publishing has changed. But the basic premise of publishing (particularly children’s book publishing) is that a great book—with a good story featuring relatable characters who do interesting and compelling things—is what matters, and this is as true as it ever was, from Lewis Carroll to Beatrix Potter to J.K. Rowling.
IES Abroad: You oversee Scholastic Reading Club, a unique school-based distribution channel that has changed the lives of children since 1948. What is the impact of this program?
JN: Scholastic Reading Club is such an effective partner for teachers, who do the most important work on our planet. Teachers tell us that without Scholastic Reading Club, they would have no books in their classrooms, since our program enables teachers to get free books for their classroom shelves and to give to students who can’t afford to purchase books.
And I am thrilled that we are able to establish the empowering and joyful experience for kids to choose, read, and own their own books, which we know, from years of experience and quantifiable research, is a major determinant of kids’ success both academically and in life. Our editors curate our selection from the more than 20,000 new children’s books published each year. Combining these choices with the best backlist and classic titles, we create monthly catalogs organized by grade, which are designed to engage, delight, and inspire kids to experience the joy and power of reading great books.
IES Abroad: You created the ClassroomsCare initiative in 1999 to stress the importance of reading and giving to children. What inspired you to develop this initiative?
JN: I believe kids all want to make a difference and help people less fortunate than themselves, but often they don’t have the wherewithal to do that. ClassroomsCare was a simple proposition. If you read books, Scholastic Reading Club will donate books to kids who don’t have any. It is a win-win-win: kids read, their actions trigger a donation, and they feel empowered; and we are able to get great, new books to kids who otherwise couldn’t afford them. Over the course of the program, Scholastic Reading Club has donated millions of books as a direct result of kids in schools reading and caring about others less fortunate than themselves.
IES Abroad: Giving back is something you are also personally passionate about. What organizations have you worked with?
JN: I do a lot of work with nonprofit organizations that support children’s literacy in underserved communities: I was Board Chair for eight years and currently serve on the board of Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit founded more than 20 years ago that’s dedicated to making literacy part of child health care. During wellness visits for children from infant to age five, trusted pediatricians provide parents with guidance on how to read with their child and develop a culture of reading in the home. In addition, the pediatricians give the families free brand-new books during the visit, which in many cases are the first books they have owned.
I also work with Book Trust, a national nonprofit that subsidizes the Reading Club experience for children who cannot afford to purchase books. And I have long been involved with the Ruby Bridges Foundation, founded by social justice activist Ruby Bridges, who integrated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960 and is the subject of Norman Rockwell’s famous painting The Problem We All Live With.
IES Abroad: Are there lessons you learned in London that have remained a constant throughout your life?
JN: IES Abroad in London was my first time living alone in a foreign country. I met people from all over the world. (Had Indian food for the first time. Now my favorite cuisine!) Embraced all kinds of new experiences and made incredible friends. And I did accomplish what I set out to do—learn more and study more deeply in my academic areas—politics, governments, and economics—which really helped me with my major studies when I went back to Connecticut College.
Travel—experiencing other cultures—opened up my world. Those are critical aspects to a full life. I see my experience in London in 1977 as a kickoff for a lifetime of travel for our family, who now all have a deep intellectual and emotional appreciation for the benefits of visiting, and living in, other countries.
For me, my semester in IES Abroad really advanced my worldview—I was more than a tourist. I was truly immersed.
IES Abroad: Have you been back to London since studying abroad?
JN: I was just in London to see the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child [which Scholastic is publishing in the U.S.] at the Palace Theatre in the West End. The whole experience of being in London from my time at IES Abroad came flooding back to me because we used to go to shows and get cheap student tickets. Though my seats were better now! It felt just as exciting and wonderful as it did when I was at IES Abroad.
IES Abroad: What advice do you have for students today who are interested in studying or interning abroad?
JN: Do it. It is a unique time in your life when you can be more than a tourist in another country. Embrace the community you live in and its culture. Spend the time immersed in your host country’s language and lifestyle. Try not to hang on to your ways of doing things at home. Be open and embrace the country you are studying in. And, of course, always be open-minded and interested and non-judgmental. You are an ambassador of your country too!
Study or an internship abroad will expand your perspective and give you tremendous insight into the world we live in, which is crucial to being successful and empathic and creative in our global community. Talk to other students who have gone abroad to weigh the benefits of home stays vs. living in a dormitory. If money is an issue, do research to find grants and scholarships. Find a way to get there!