Under Dr. Dukes' leadership, Prince George's Community College was the only college in Maryland to be chosen as one of the nation's sixteen White House Champions of Change in community colleges. Her vision has led to the creation of a community college model for multifaceted financial growth, and sectorbased partnerships to enhance academic programs and state-of-the-art technology advancements. Prince George's Community College also has the distinction of being the only college in Maryland to house a grades 9-12 middle college high school, the Academy of Health Sciences, where students will receive a high school diploma and associate degrees concurrently upon graduation.

Designated as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), the college serves more than 44,000 students, ninety-three percent of whom are students of color. Those students engage with 250 fulltime faculty, more than 1,000 adjunct faculty and 654 administrators and staff annually. The college also serves as a vital resource for organizations throughout the county, state and region.

Following a progressive ascension through the administrative ranks within the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and the Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Dukes joined Prince George's Community College as the Vice President for Student Services in 1995. Her tenure and leadership at the College has resulted in significant enhancements that have become state and national models of academic success. PGCC has become a National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance. The College is also the national headquarters and lead institution for the 77 colleges and universities from 26 states participating in the National Science Foundations' Cyberwatch Advanced Technological Education Center.

From 2002 through 2006, she served on the Appointed Board of Education of Prince George's County. In May 2007, she accepted a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Maryland State Board of Education. In October 2007, the African-American Alumni Council of the University of Pittsburgh recognized Dr. Dukes as an Outstanding Alumnus, and in 2008, she received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2009, she accepted the "1St Ladies Award" given by Radio One and My Sister's Keeper Organization and the "Luminary Award" from the Prince George's County Black Chamber of Commerce. In 2009 and 2010, Dr. Dukes was recognized for leadership in education by the Pi Upsilon Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. She was also recognized by the Washington Business Journal as one of the "2010 Women Who Mean Business," and in 2011, she was honored by the Mitchellville chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The Washingtonian recognized her, in 2011, as one of the "100 Most Powerful Women" in the Washington DC region.

Dr. Dukes has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an English concentration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Masters and Doctorate in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She resides in Glenn Dale, Maryland, and her son, Maurice Dukes, is a senior at Howard University.