The first time I met Jennifer Graham, I was nervous.
These nerves had little to do with Jennifer herself–I was auditioning for a production of The Vagina Monologues, and she was listening to me do a cold reading of the script. If I’d known then how sweet and down-to-earth Jennifer is, I don’t think I would’ve been nervous at all.
“The Vagina Monologues is one of my favorite events that the Women’s Center does every year,” said Jennifer. “I love being able to bring women’s stories to life and see the way folks connect with the different monologues. I love that we are able to honor women across the globe while speaking out against violence on our own campus. I also love that we get to work with such outstanding women during the show and I get to watch friendships develop among the cast members.”
As a participant of The Vagina Monologues for two years, I agree with Jennifer regarding their appeal. I also agree that they are important. As the Women’s Center Coordinator, Jennifer not only oversees The Vagina Monologues, but also provides violence prevention education to the the campus community, offers advocacy and support to victims and survivors of sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking on campus; coordinates various educational programs on campus related to gender, and acts as an advocate for women’s issues on campus.
“I am passionate about combating rape culture,” Jennifer continued. “It is so insidious and its impacts are far-reaching. So much of the work I feel we do in the center is aimed at interrupting rape culture.” Rape culture, for those of you who don’t know, refers to the idea that prevalent attitudes and practices in society normalize, excuse, tolerate, and even condone rape. Destruction of rape culture ideas is just one of the many things that Jennifer is passionate about.
“I am also passionate about working with students,” she went on. “It is one of my favorite aspects of my job. I love watching students grow and develop and see how ideas fit together. I love watching students figure out who they are and what they stand for. And I am honored that sometimes I get to be a part of that process.”
When she isn’t working, Jennifer is busy parenting her eight-year-old daughter. Any downtime she gets she loves to spend reading. When I asked her what she liked to read, Jennifer replied, “Most anything, really, but recently I read the Divergent books and really loved them.”
Jennifer Graham is a superhero. She is smart, funny, talented, and passionate about her work in a way that many others are not. I’m honored to have had the chance to work with her. She is, without a doubt, someone to admire.