Living in many worlds: The JMU journey of Sierra Karcher

When Sierra (Stanczyk) Karcher graduated from James Madison University in 2009 with a degree in International Affairs, she had no idea how deeply JMU would continue to shape her life after leaving Harrisonburg. From her work with the FBI to PwC, from family life to volunteer leadership, the thread connecting it all has always been her Duke spirit.

A first-generation college graduate, Karcher spent 12 years working with the FBI, beginning in the foreign language program and then transitioning to intelligence and national security work. Then, when she pursued her master’s in cybersecurity at the University of Maryland, Karcher realized how well her JMU background paired with her interest in the tech side of intelligence and cyber threat intelligence.

After obtaining her master’s degree, Karcher went on to work for a number of operational divisions, culminating in intelligence leadership roles in FBI Philadelphia. 

Amid the intensity of intelligence work, JMU connections appeared everywhere — even in the most unlikely places.

One day in the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover building gym, Karcher recognized a familiar voice on the basketball court. She glanced over and saw one of her classmates playing pickup, and they immediately reconnected after losing touch in the years after graduation.

Karcher has always believed volunteering would be a large part of her life. Her grandmother volunteered extensively, and growing up, Karcher saw firsthand how and what it meant to support your own personal causes. It was no surprise that after graduation she immediately became an active alumna. 

For several years, she served on JMU’s Political Science Alumni Board as a founding member, reconnecting with the university community and supporting efforts like the Washington Semester Program’s fundraising initiatives. When she rolled off the board, her focus became her career and supporting her family. Her stepsons began their own JMU journeys, with one enrolling as a freshman, and the other transferring in 2025. 

In 2023, when Women for Madison — a diverse network of alumni, parents, students, faculty and friends of JMU who inspire other women to engage with opportunities on campus — began recruiting for their Executive Advisory Council (EAC), Karcher knew that was her opportunity to reengage. She applied, was selected, and eventually became Chair of the EAC. 

Her motivation? The people. “Many of them were women I’d already volunteered with in other capacities,” she says. “It felt natural to work with them again.”

“Now I get to talk about JMU with other people all the time.” Karcher shared while talking about how much she enjoys representing JMU wherever she goes.

Today, Karcher works closely with Women for Madison leadership, helps shape committee efforts, and maintains alumni engagement — especially for the Amethyst and Citrine Circles. She loves tapping into the stories behind Women for Madison and helping new members feel welcome. She even brings the spirit of JMU engagement and philanthropy to Dukes by representing PwC in Women for Madison’s Women in Business programming. “It’s been exciting to partner with business students on this,” she says. “We learn so much from each other.”

For Karcher, JMU’s magic has always been its community. She has met fellow Dukes in airports and even other countries — like Italy. “Someone you’ve never met before can become an instant friend,” she says.

She sees the same spirit in Women for Madison. The Citrine Circle, Amethyst Circle and broader network all demonstrate what’s possible when women unite around opportunity and securing JMU’s future for generations to come. “I want other students to have the opportunity to come to JMU and have the experience that I did.”

Karcher describes herself as someone who enjoys “existing in multiple worlds.” Her life reflects just that: national security and cybersecurity, private sector and civil service, higher education and volunteering, family life and mentorship. And through every chapter, JMU has remained a constant. 

“JMU is actually a big part of my life,” Karcher says. “The four-year chapter was just the beginning.”