Tena Madison

Tena currently serves as the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Office of Access, Inclusion, and Compliance at UW-Madison’s Division of Extension. As an organizational behavior and development specialist, change strategist, and trauma-informed embodied transformation coach, she brings 22 years of experience centering access, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging in higher education. Tena co-creates spaces, policies, and strategies that foster inclusion and respond to the needs of diverse communities, prioritizing cultural relevancy, competency, and congruency. Leveraging emotional intelligence, social intelligence, and relationship systems intelligence she engages individuals, groups, and organizations in inquiry and awareness and deep democracy leading to safe, brave, and accountable spaces for exploration, growth, and connection.

An outdoorswoman, mother, and grandmother, Tena deeply values compassion, curiosity, life-long learning, service, and reciprocity. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and camping while also giving back to her community through conservation efforts and sharing her love for nature and its healing power.