Vision and secrets go hand in hand for those in leadership positions. That is as true at Dakota
State University as it is elsewhere.
In the weeks leading up to an announcement that has been described as a game changer for the state, with DSU taking the lead in making South Dakota a cyber hub for the nation, President José-Marie Griffiths sat down to talk about her vision for the Madison university. Because the $90 million cyber-research initiative had not yet been announced, she was forced to speak of other things. However, because the university is a hub of activity these days, this was not difficult for her.
“We already have two things going on,” she responded immediately when asked where she sees the university in five years. “One is doubling the size of the Beacom College.”
At the time of the interview, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem had already requested $30 million from the state Legislature for this and to establish the Governor’s Cyber Academy. To double the number of those graduating from the Beacom College of Cyber and Computer Sciences over the next five years, the university needs to recruit and retain faculty, staff and students.
“I think that while this institution has an ability to attract and grow, we should,” Griffiths stated,
acknowledging that growth will be limited at some point.
“I wouldn’t want to go above 5,000 students,” she said. “If we got over 4,000, I would be happy.
If we got 4,500, I would be delighted.”
Griffiths knows a growing number of students will be remote. Similarly, she believes an
increasing number will not attend DSU for four years. Cyber Academy students could complete a degree in three years, and more students may be transferring in from community colleges which are among the National Security Agency’s Centers for Academic Excellence.
“When we talk about adding new students, they’re not all going to be traditional, four-year
students,” she explained. Still, more faculty, staff and possibly a new residence hall will be needed to accommodate this growth.
Growth in the Beacom College will impact other colleges as well as students fulfilling university
requirements in those program areas. It will be driven by perceived workforce needs in areas such as artificial intelligence and cyberhealth.
“The other piece we have going on in Madison is the athletics event center, the athletics
complex,” Griffiths said, naming the second project alluded to early in the interview.
While Phase I is being launched this year, within five years the entire complex could be
completed. That project will impact the university by attracting better athletes. It will also impact the community by allowing Madison to host more youth tournaments which will affect area businesses.
“At the same time, we’re exposing more children and their families to Madison and DSU,”
Griffiths indicated.
While the athletics complex will be traditional in many ways, it also offers features especially
attractive to the kinds of students attracted to the university’s cyber programs, such as space for drone racing.
“We won’t have to worry about FAA regulations,” Griffiths noted.
The skills developed through this activity could prove to be beneficial in surprising ways, such as supporting the state’s healthcare systems.
“They could deliver things to people, to individuals – test kits, test results, all sorts of things,”
Griffiths said, noting drones come in a variety of sizes.
When she communicates future possibilities such as these, Griffith’s capacity for leadership is
most clearly evident. Like Robert F. Kennedy who was assassinated in 1968 while campaigning for president, she gives people hope.
Kennedy’s campaign slogan was, “Some men see things as they are and ask, ‘Why?’ I dream
things that never were and ask, ‘Why not'?” That is the sensibility that Griffiths brings to her position at DSU.
The Beacom Institute, the MadLabs and now the athletics event center and Dakota State
Research Applied Research Laboratory in Sioux Falls are all the result of asking, “Why not?” and then working with partners to bring the projects to fruition. Even before current projects are completed, she is imagining another direction in which the university can move.
“I would like to develop the area we used to call human-computer interaction,” Griffiths said.
“As we use technology and artificial intelligence in the delivery of services, particularly interpersonal services, the nature of the interaction changes.”
She illustrated with the example of healthcare, where the provider and the consumer may
connect through technology and artificial intelligence.
“That is going to affect the relationship that exists and the means of communication,” she
observed. “If we don’t do that carefully, some people will opt out. They won’t want to use it.”
This could have a significant impact on the care received in rural areas.
“This whole area of human-computer interaction, usability, interface design, is an area that is
now going to have a resurrection and grow in importance,” Griffiths stated, listing all the areas of
expertise which must come together to address concerns and noting that collaboration – an area in which she excels -- will be necessary to address them.