Building a Dynamic Future with Dr. José-Marie Griffiths
Dr. José-Marie Griffiths was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame (SDHoF) for her outstanding accomplishments in the field of higher education. These accomplishments are a coalescence of her professional drive and lifelong passion for learning.
She has transformed South Dakota since her arrival to the state in 2015 and has moved Dakota State University (DSU) to a new place in the higher education world. Dr. Griffiths sat down with 2013 Inductee Miles Beacom to discuss the path that brought her to South Dakota and the leadership lessons that have helped her make a lasting impact on the state.
Dr. Griffiths was one of just three women to complete a bachelor’s degree in physics at the University College London (UCL), and she entered into a field completely dominated by men with significant barriers. When doors to a career as a physicist shut, Dr. Griffiths switched gears and received bachelor’s degrees in Information Science, Computer Science, and Statistics. She has also been awarded an honorary doctoral degree from UCL in 2016 for her contributions to science and higher education.
When reflecting on the challenges she has faced as a woman in science, she shared the importance of presenting yourself with confidence.
“You don’t do it once; you have to do it every time you meet someone for people to take you seriously.”
Dr. Griffiths immigrated to the United States after graduate school to build a research career. One of her roles included Vice President for King Research, Inc., but her ability to understand and explain technology launched her down a path to higher education administration.
During her career, she has been appointed as lead or key personnel for projects with over 28 U.S. Federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, NASA, and U.S. intelligence agencies. She has served on the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and has carried out projects with major corporations such as AT&T, Bell Laboratories, and IBM. Dr. Griffiths has also been named one of the top 25 Women of the Web and one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Artificial Intelligence.
After such a vast career, Dr. Griffiths still felt she had one job left to accomplish, and that was a formal presidency at a university. She brought a unique set of skills and experiences to Dakota State University in 2015.
The institution was making great strides in the cyber realm after a 1984 mission change, but for DSU to become a leader in cyber education and a leading research and development university in the nation, DSU needed dynamic leadership to turn this hidden gem of a “little college on the prairie” into a “cyber powerhouse of the plains.” That leadership came with the appointment of Dr. Griffiths as President.
In addition, Dr. Griffiths brought amazing connections with her when she arrived in South Dakota, and those connections continue to grow to this day. Some of the key connections she made were during her time serving in presidential appointments to the National Science Board, the U.S. President's Information Technology Advisory Committee, and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
“If there is one thing I can share with the youth [of South Dakota], it is the importance of connections. Maintain connections, and continue to share your life with others. When someone helps you, share your success with them,” said Dr. Griffiths.
Like Marie Curie, President Griffiths’ visionary spirit and never-ending drive make her an inspiration and a role model to students who are making distinctive accomplishments in research labs, design studios, area K-12 classrooms, national and international cyber competitions, and athletics.
Learn more about Dr. José-Marie Griffiths here.