Judith Ann Rasmussen Dushku (born 30 March 1942) is an American academic political scientist, journalist, writer, and humanitarian.
An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and well known as a Mormon feminist,[1] Dushku cofounded the Mormon women's journal Exponent II, was the Relief Society president for the Boston stake of the LDS Church, became lead founder of a humanitarian agency in Uganda, and is a professor of government at Suffolk University (Boston, Massachusetts), specializing in comparative politics and the interaction of policy and gender since the 1970s.
Dushku has been dean of a satellite campus, has won two major awards at Suffolk, and has been a Fulbright Senior Specialist.
[4] Her father joined the US Navy, and was later director of the National Civil Defense Staff College, as well as an active Mormon leader.
[2] Dushku has been voted Suffolk University Professor of the Year[9] and received a Lifetime Contribution Award from the institution.
"[6] Dushku has explained how she became interested in questions of diversity and rights, referencing her upbringing;[2] she has also commented that the Vietnam War changed her perspective.
The Exponent II group, including Dushku, also ran a series of classes on the role of women in the LDS Church.
[14] Dushku was acquainted with Mitt Romney, who was for some years the bishop in her ward, and also for a time Boston stake president of the LDS Church.
During his US presidential nomination campaign, Dushku spoke out about Romney's position on abortion, highlighting a case in which there was a risk to the life of the mother, in which he had intervened as an LDS bishop.
[20] Initially Tharce-Gulu (Trauma Healing and Reflecting Center - Gulu),[21] the non-governmental organization was later renamed Thrive-Gulu, and it works on rehabilitation, literacy for both adults and young people, and empowerment, rights and leadership training.
"[21] The project has also received funding from international aid agencies of countries including Ireland and Norway, and NGOs such as Save the Children.