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Home ― News ― Griffiths Chosen as Next Dakota State University President

Griffiths Chosen as Next Dakota State University President

April 27, 2015

Released by the South Dakota Board of Regents, April 27, 2015.

MADISON, S.D. – José-Marie Griffiths, vice president for academic affairs at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., will become the 23rd president of Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents announced Monday.José-Marie Griffiths, vice president for academic affairs at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., will become the 23rd president of Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents announced Monday.

Griffiths will begin her duties as president at the Madison campus late this summer.

“We are pleased Dr. José-Marie Griffiths has accepted the presidency of Dakota State University. Her leadership experience in higher education, coupled with her wealth of knowledge in the areas of information systems and research, will be extremely beneficial to DSU,” said Regent Terry Baloun, who chaired the presidential search committee. “Our search committee was confident that she was the right choice to advance the university’s mission to produce graduates with expertise in the use of computer technology and information processing,” Baloun said. “We enthusiastically welcome Dr. Griffiths to DSU.” 

Griffiths has worked for more than 30 years in higher education and has focused her academic research on the use of information technology in higher education, the contribution of technology and informatics, and health informatics.

She has been vice president for academic affairs at Bryant University since 2010. Throughout her career Griffiths has held vice president or vice chancellor positions, with responsibility for academic affairs, information technology, and research. Nationally, she has served in three presidential appointments involving information technology and information science.

“I am delighted to be joining the leadership team of DSU and moving to the Madison community,” said Griffiths. “I was initially very attracted to DSU because of the university’s strength in high tech and informatics programs, combined with depth and breadth in business, education, liberal arts, math, and the sciences. DSU is a dynamic and innovative institution, well positioned for leadership in this 21st century era of remarkable change,” she said.

“I see it as important to respect DSU’s rich heritage, while acting to propel the institution forward along a thoughtful, collegial, enhanced trajectory of success and sustainability,” Griffiths emphasized. “I am a European by birth and upbringing, but have spent most of my career in the United States. I believe the international connections DSU has already established are a strong statement of both the unique programs the university has to offer and our shared belief that global understandings and experiences are now crucial to success in many, if not all, careers,” she said. “I have been fortunate to work in or lead projects in over 40 countries around the world. I am looking forward to working with DSU faculty, administrators, and students to see how we can develop international connections to further advance and expand DSU’s impact and contribution, both here and abroad.”

Griffiths holds a doctor of information science and a bachelor’s degree in physics from University College London.  She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in computer science and statistics at University College London.  She has conducted numerous contracts or grants with 16 federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, the National Institute of Science and Technology, and NASA, as well as with more than a dozen Forbes 100 companies, including AT&T Bell labs, IBM, Eastman Kodak, Johnson & Johnson, DuPont, and Colgate-Palmolive; multiple international organizations including NATO, UNESCO, and the British Library Research and Development Division; and over 10 statewide studies on networking, including Massachusetts, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Serving about 3,000 students, DSU provides undergraduate degrees in computer science-related programs, business, respiratory care, education, and exercise science. DSU’s graduate degree offerings include master’s degrees in computer science, business, and education technology. DSU’s two doctoral degree programs are in information systems and cyber security. DSU was designated a Center of Excellence in Cyber Operations by the National Security Agency and houses the Center of the Advancement of Health Information Technology.

Griffiths is married to Donald W. King, an internationally renowned entrepreneur, statistician, and researcher. King was co-founder of Westat Inc., which is recognized as one of the premier survey research companies in the U.S.  Griffiths and King have six daughters and 14 grandchildren. Griffiths enjoys a wide variety of campus and community events whenever possible, is an avid reader, a lover of music and the arts, a frequent board member to community organizations, and most of all enjoys interesting conversations with people of all different ages, perspectives, and backgrounds.