![De Andra Judge, PMPBS Psychology, Howard University“Iron sharpens iron; so a [wo]man sharpens the countenance of [her] friend,”](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52097ea8e4b0b43f79747689/1435964308131-XOXAN8VGZH23BPNBNBBR/image-asset.jpeg)
De Andra Judge, PMP
BS Psychology, Howard University
“Iron sharpens iron; so a [wo]man sharpens the countenance of [her] friend,”
Meet the Founder
Hello, my name is De Andra! Similar to many of the girls and young women that participate in PŪR GEMS empowerment and mentoring programs, I am an introvert. However today, I have learned how to strike a healthy balance between being a shrinking violet and stretching beyond my comfort zone in order to be active, visible, and expressive. Whether classified as an introvert or an extrovert, my overall personality is one that is enterprising, unassuming, multifaceted, and compassionate. Given these qualities and my own personal journey toward self-discovery, I can appreciate the wide-range of self-esteem and confidence-building challenges that influence most young girls today. As CEO and Founder of PŪR GEMS, I work collaboratively with program participants, their families, and community organizations to help our girls and young women acquire a level of confidence and self-awareness that prepares them for the world around them and helps them S.H.I.N.E.
About the Founder
Graduating with full honors, De Andra earned her BS in Psychology from Howard University while completing a minor in Human Development. As a result of this formal training combined with her three years of experience as a dormitory resident assistant (RA), De Andra refined her community mentoring, program development, and administrative management skills by working collaboratively with other RAs to support 600 residents. Beyond her RA role, she has also developed specialized leadership training and empowerment coaching for more than 100 student coaches, coordinators, and female students that have participated in Howard University’s Harriet Tubman Quadrangle (QUAD) Step Team for the past five years. Because of De Andra’s continuous desire to provide customized support that focuses on providing girls and young women with necessary tools to accomplish introspection, develop critical-thinking skills, establish goals, validate positive decision making, and encourage expressive communication, she developed PŪR GEMS, an empowerment and mentoring organization.