Joyce Tucker grew up in Wisconsin. When she returned to the School of Social Work’s MSW program in 1994, she was a 50-year-old single mother of a teenage daughter. Always an athlete, 10 years earlier a horseback riding accident resulted in her needing to use a wheelchair.
Prior to her accident, Joyce worked as a probation and parole agent in Wisconsin. Following her accident, she became an active volunteer. Joyce helped start a program for children with autism, continued her passion for horseback riding by working with and encouraging those with disabilities, and was a member of the diversity committee of Janesville’s Action Council. Joyce was recognized by the YWCA of Rock County’s as a “Women of Distinction,” calling her “an advocate for people with disabilities and one of this community’s most active volunteers.”
More than 20 years ago Joyce relocated to Clermont, Florida, internationally known as a training center for elite athletes, where she continued her athletic and volunteer pursuits. Joyce also interacted with a number of Olympic athletes and became a regular participant in Parkrun, a 5K weekly “run” on a trail at the Clermont waterfront. Recently, Joyce has found a new way to bring joy for herself and her community. She raises and releases butterflies.
Reflecting on her life Joyce explains, “I guess my biggest message, life goes on, my motto is ‘this too shall pass.’ It has been good how many opportunities there have been to use my social work degree in such a variety of ways.”