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SWVA Native to Deliver UVA Wise Commencement Address

Tori Villiard
Judy Harding
Photo by Mark Robertson-Baker II

Judy Harding, a retired engineer and Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia alumna, will deliver the commencement address to the UVA Wise Class of 2023. The College’s commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, in the David J. Prior Convocation Center.

Harding is a Southwest Virginia native who will be returning to her alma mater to congratulate the class of 2023 with thoughtful remarks about how her college education helped foster a lifetime of leadership and success.

“The professors at CVC really cared about their students. They helped me identify so many opportunities,” says Harding. “If they hadn’t been there for me, I don’t know how I would have gotten to where I am today.”

Harding earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from then-CVC. She then went on to receive her engineering degree from the University of Virginia. She began her career at Shell Oil in New Orleans, La.

In 1980, Harding moved to Calgary, Alberta where she held various leadership roles as an engineer and manager, working for companies like Dome Petroleum and Talisman Energy Inc.

Over the course of her career, Harding rose through the ranks. Not only did she pursue a career in the field of engineering in a time when few women did, she also harnessed her talents to serve others, resulting in management experience and leadership opportunities.

Before retiring, Harding became the president of Fortuna Energy Inc. and later vice president of Talisman Energy, Inc.

“One of the things that meant the most to me was being able to help people and create a better environment where they could achieve more,” Harding adds.

Harding and her husband, Les Champ, have recently returned to the area to be close to her mother. Harding quickly got to work learning about today’s UVA Wise students to ensure her message is helpful to them as they embark on the next step in their professional and personal journeys.

“I want to use my words to instill as much hope for the future as possible,” Harding says. “CVC gave me direction and support, so I hope that I can give a little bit of that to today’s students.”