Ashley Judd is going back to school. The 41-year-old actress — an avid humanitarian — has enrolled in Harvard University’s Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) Program, according to her publicist.

The program is designed to increase the skills and knowledge of well established and high performing professionals, who are looking to enhance their public service careers or leadership roles, The Harvard Crimson reports.

The Republicans aren’t going to like this.

Actress Ashley Judd is heading up a Defenders of Wildlife ad campaign blasting Governor Sarah Palin for her support of the aerial killing of wolves and bears in Alaska.

In a public servce announcement released this week, Ashley accuses Madame Governor of proposing a $150 bounty for the severed legs of wolves and encourages viewers to help “stop Sarah Palin and stop this senseless savagery.”

Wow, Ashley’s more hardcore than a PETA protester!

Ashley Judd is creating her own charity clothing line for eU.S. retail giant Goody’s. Sales of the actress’ new line will benefit education charities across America.

Ashley says: “At first, I wasn’t interested. In my view there is already enough stuff in the world, but when they told me it would raise funds for schools, I changed my mind. “Our schools are in dire need. With my eco-friendly, moderately priced clothes, Goody’s will give away a half a million dollars to schools in need. And that’s just the first year.”

“Helping women to understand their rights is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Ashley Judd in an interview om Monday.

Grass-roots prevention programs that target women work well, the 38-year-old Hollywood actress told the Mumbai-based DNA newspaper.

Judd is representing Population Services International, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, during her weeklong visit to India to promote awareness about HIV/AIDS.

She met sex workers in Mumbai, India’s financial and entertainment capital, after her arrival Saturday. Aid workers estimate there are at least 10,000 sex workers in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay.

“The empowerment of girls and women is an essential tool to preventing the HIV/AIDS emergency from exploding any further,” DNA quoted Judd as saying.

The actress, whose movies include “De-Lovely” and “Kiss the Girls,” has traveled across the world to focus attention on HIV/AIDS.

Most women have “dreams for other people, but not dreams for themselves,” she said. “That is painful.”

With 5.7 million infections, India has the world’s largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. The government has launched campaigns encouraging high-risk groups such as sex workers to use condoms, aimed at stopping the disease from spreading.

“There is a common problem worldwide and there is also a common solution,” Judd said about the need for more prevention and awareness programs.

Depression, isolation and co-dependent relationships are but a few of the problems Judd underwent treatment for, she admitted to Glamour magazine.

“I was in so much pain,” she says, “I needed help.”

Help came, and now she says she’s able to take life one day a time. A quotation attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, Judd says these words allow her to take responsbility for her own feelings.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Follow up on Judd’s emotional roller coaster ride here.