An Interview with the Assistant Director

Jonathan Griffiths, Assistant Director of the Weissman Foundry

Written by Scout Trae James

What brought you to the Foundry originally?

I earned my undergraduate degree in biology and eventually pursued a master’s degree in science and education. After graduation, I moved to Seattle and ended up teaching at the Art Institute of Seattle. This was the first chance I had to really engage with the maker community. I loved engaging with students on projects that could encourage them to use tools that they were not familiar with. The idea of creation was central to the classroom, and I learned the benefit of incorporating hands-on activities in the classroom. This experience formulated the way I viewed my own teaching, as well as my educational philosophy for the past 15 years. My love for these machines led me to apply to the Foundry, but what really drew me here was the people and the focus on helping them to use the machines to further their education.

How do you think your educational background has shaped your outlook for the Foundry?

Firstly, I view all of the Scouts as educators, and I encourage Scouts to see themselves as such. If I can empower you to feel like you are a teacher and that you can teach things to others, it improves the educational experience at the Foundry. At its core, the Foundry is a collaborative, transdisciplinary environment, and we want to encourage that. By allowing everyone to be an educator, we create a space where everyone develops and supports one another.

Is there one specific challenge that you wish to tackle at the Foundry?

The biggest obstacle that we face now is determining how we can best engage the three-college community in a meaningful way. I think what we need to do is tell our story, as well as telling people what you can do here in the space. By sharing all of the opportunities here, we encourage their engagement, thus fulfilling our promise of being a collaborative space that the whole BOW community utilizes.

If you were to look into the future two years from now, how would you know that you have succeeded in your goals for the Foundry?

I would know that I’ve succeeded when I see significant collaboration between Babson, Olin, and Wellesley students at the Foundry. I would love to see BOW students working closely in this space again. I think that one of the first things that makes the Foundry truly unique is that this place gives you an opportunity to speak with people who have a different mindset than your own. The BOW community is rich with people who possess diverse interests and skills, and it’ll be great for the Foundry to be the center of collaboration between the different groups.