Jennifer Madriaga, Graduate Certificate 1998

Senior Manager, Global Community Event Strategy at Red Hat – Raleigh, NC

1995 Major: English; 1998 Master's of Liberal Studies and Certificate in Women's Studies

How has being a GSF graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?

"I have held many different roles since graduating Duke, varying in scope and responsibility as well as industry. The most lasting impact of going through the graduate certificate program is developing a lens through which to view issues of equity and inclusion. I currently work in the tech industry and was a co-founder for the Asian employee resource group (ERG) that was launched in 2021. My experience at Duke helped me develop a way to ask questions and to explore deeper if answers are insufficient. I also learned the importance of intersectionality and coalition-building. I work closely with other ERG leaders from the LGBTQ+, Neurodiversity, and Diverse Abilities communities.

"I graduated from undergrad with a BA in English and from grad school with MA in Liberal Studies. My experience at Duke enabled me to always be in a state of inquiry. I approach things from a place of curiosity and a desire to understand more deeply. I always learned the importance of subtext as well as about systems of oppression and power, which informs how I understand organizational dynamics. I also learned the importance of creating relationships across differences. As a grad student, I worked in what was previously the Office of Intercultural Affairs, which was the precursor to the Center of Multicultural Affairs. I currently provide marketing consulting to the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Red Hat and am also actively involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion through my role as the Chair of the Red Hat Asian Network. I work closely on my own time with our Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Officer."

What advice would you give students in Duke's Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies programs? 

"Stay curious, question deeply, and don't settle."

Jennifer Madriaga