Bernadette Griggs

Growing up in a household with parents who were educators, Bernadette was shown the value of education early in life. It didn’t matter that the home had no running water, no indoor facilities, and that the children had to study by lanterns or oil lamps—because there was no electricity. Today, all five of her siblings residing in the United States hold master’s degrees. One sibling remains in Belize, where Bernadette was born and raised. She firmly believes that your starting point should not determine your destiny.

By age 15, after graduating from high school, Bernadette had already set her sights on becoming an accountant. At just 17, she made the courageous move to the United States, leaving behind her parents and siblings in pursuit of a better life. She immediately became a financial support to her younger siblings in Belize, navigating unemployment and single parenthood while raising her sons. Through it all, she credits God’s grace, her family, friends, and her best friend who stood by her side with love and support.

She is blessed with two sons, Jameel and Rassan, daughter-in-law Alexa, and a 3-year-old grandson, Jett. Bernadette and both of her sons are alumni of San Diego State University, and she also holds an MBA in Financial Management from National University. She persevered through the challenge of attending school, working full time, and raising two sons as a single parent.

Bernadette’s home has always been a place of refuge. During her youngest son’s high school years, she welcomed several teenagers into her home—one of whom stayed until graduation. Later, she took in an asylum seeker from Syria, a total stranger who became family. The family helped him learn English, adapt to American culture, and supported him until he found employment. Nine years later, he is now married with twin boys and calls Bernadette his sister.

A child of educators, Bernadette pursued a career in education administration to impact curriculum and funding for students with special needs and low income. That career spanned 33 years, rising to Associate Vice Chancellor of Business at the community college level and Assistant Superintendent of Business (Chief Business Officer) in a K–12 district before retiring.

Until the end of the 2024 school year, she served on the board of a charter school for drop-out recovery, helping students earn high school diplomas and job skills. Many of these students later attended colleges and universities.

Her passion for education and community now shines in her work to support technology in Belizean schools, where tech access is limited. She has equipped two high schools and one elementary school with desktop labs and donates an average of 30–35 tablets annually to an elementary school in Hopkins Village. Her most recent donation of 40 tablets supports Garifuna language learning. She believes every child deserves the tools for learning, and that it’s up to the community to step in where government cannot.

Currently, Bernadette serves as a board advisor for the Optimist International Club in Belize, supporting fundraising and donating to the club’s sewing and soap-making entrepreneurship programs. Each trip to Belize includes suitcases of donated goods to share with locals.

After retiring from education, Bernadette became the Chief Financial Officer of Jewish Family Service of San Diego. In her six years there, she was chosen to chair the CFO Cohort for the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (U.S., Canada, and Israel). Under her leadership, the agency’s budget grew from $24M to $121M—the largest in its history. Despite her executive role, she has also personally delivered food to the elderly and supported those in crisis.

In 2023, Bernadette was honored as CFO of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal—the first executive and person of color at the 107-year-old nonprofit, and the first Belizean in the U.S. to receive this award. That same year, she was featured by San Diego State University’s Fowler School of Business for her advocacy for immigrant Dreamers and global education.

Her Favorite Scriptures

• Chosen – Ephesians 1:4
• Child of God – John 1:21
• Complete – Colossians 2:10
• Warrior – Ephesians 6:10
• Wonderfully Made – Psalm 139:14
• Loved – 1 John 4:10
• Friend – John 15:15
• Forgiven – Ephesians 1:7

In March 2024, during Women’s History Month, Bernadette was honored by Upper Room Full Gospel Church as a modern-day Esther for her compassion, generosity, and love for humanity.