JMU Federal Dukes Spotlight: Kerry Canfield — CGI Federal, Vice President

Professional Bio

Kerry Canfield leads CGI Federal’s Intellectual Property strategy and market engagement initiatives. She has worked with federal organizations in the civilian, defense and intelligence communities to improve operations through business and information technology solutions and has passion for partnering with customers to ensure outcomes exceed expectations.

JMU Major / Year Graduated

Finance, 1994

Why did you choose JMU?

JMU was a happy place (still is)! I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at the time, but I knew the liberal arts program would allow me to explore many things and figure it out!

How did your degree from JMU lead you to where you are today?

I learned how to work and present in teams and to think on my feet! I started out as a business analyst translating customer requirements to technical developers and then testing the solution to ensure it met their needs. I had the financial acumen from my JMU studies to be able to confidently ask questions until I understood the required context. I was curious about why and how things needed to work and the bigger picture to convey customer value.

What does working for the Federal Government community mean to you?

We provide solutions that support the American people. I love that! What we do matters from ensuring Veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve to advancing homeland security and warfighter effectiveness. I have had the honor of working in famed federal buildings as a federal contractor. It’s fun to be an insider and not just watch the Hollywood version.