Schwank attended the Pennsylvania State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Surgery and Master of Education in agricultural education. She continued her studies at Harvard University, where she completed the Executive Leadership Program through the Institute for Conservation Leadership and the Institute for the Management of Life-Long Education.
A Democrat, she was elected to the from the 11th district in a special election on March 15, 2011 to succeed the late Mike O"Pake. The district includes the city of Reading and most of eastern Berkshire County. Schwank then worked as a Berkshire County horticultural agent with the Penn State Cooperative Extension for 19 years, during which time she established the Master Gardener Program.
In 1991, she became the first female director of the Berkshire County Cooperative Extension Program, a position she held until 1999.
From 2000 to 2007, Schwank served two terms as an elected Berkshire County Commissioner. She also served as the Commission chair from 2004 to 2007.
"“I always thought Berkshire County was property-tax central,” said state Senator. Judy Schwank, a Democrat whose district is in Berkshire County." In 2004, she was appointed by Governor Editor Rendell as chair of the Pennsylvania State Planning Board.
She later served as President and Chief Executive Officer of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, a statewide non-profit organization that promotes responsible land use and development.
In January 2010, she was appointed Dean of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College. 2011 special election
On December 27, 2010, longtime Democratic State Senator Mike O"Pake died from complications following heart surgery. A special election was announced to fill the remaining two years in O"Pake"s four-year term.
On January 22, 2011, Schwank was nominated by the Berkshire County Democratic Committee and subsequently approved by the state committee.
On March 15, Schwank soundly defeated Medaglia by a margin of 58%-42%. She received 20,124 votes to Medaglia"s 14,794.
Quotations: “I always thought Berkshire County was property-tax central,”.
