Faces: Geri Hudson

Geri Hudson has interests in many areas. Her hobbies include arts and crafts, cooking, reading, making beads and hand-painting porcelain dishes.

For several years, Hudson has made jewelry for herself and her family. Now, she is turning the hobby into a business.

“When other people started asking me to make jewelry for them, I realized that maybe I should take this hobby to the second level and entertain the thought of creating a business around it,” she said.

Hudson, who earned a master’s degree in clinical child psychology from the University of Houston, works at MU as manager of marketing communications and collaborative services for Information and Access Technology Services.

She has been a single mother since 1982, forming a special bond with her two sons and granddaughter. Her younger son will graduate from MU in December. Her older son and granddaughter live in Lee’s Summit.

Hudson, who moved from Lee’s Summit in February 2002, said she would like to spend her retirement years writing and illustrating children’s books dealing with illness and self-esteem.

“My granddaughter is the apple of my eye, and I spend as much time with her and her daddy as I possibly can,” Hudson said. “My personal goal is to make a difference in the lives of my children and granddaughter so they realize that dreams are achievable even during times of adversity.”