18:83 Speaker Series: Dr. Jenkins and The Mischievous Greyhound

Dr. Marjorie Jenkins turned career story into tale about ‘finding her pack’ at UND and School of Medicine & Health Sciences

Have you ever scrolled through your phone and seen a link that says, “What type of dog would you be?” only to scroll on by?

Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences and vice president for Health Affairs, is the type of person to click through.

Speaking last week as part of UND’s 18:83 Speaker Series, she used some of her favorite results to weave the narrative of her leadership journey.

“I tested as a greyhound,” Jenkins said, confirming she clicked that link. “Greyhounds are fast. They have a field of vision that’s 270 degrees. They’re independent, a little aloof, surprisingly gentle and once they see something worth chasing, they go for it.”

Beyond finding canine qualities, Jenkins said she’s drawn to assessments as a way of getting to know herself as well as colleagues.

From her results on the Hogan Assessment, another attribute caught her eye: mischievous

“It means that you like to challenge the status quo,” Jenkins said. “You like to say, ‘Why do we do this the same way all the time?’ And you’re willing to take risks.

“Mischievousness can derail your career, or it can be very helpful to your career.”

From such results, the story of The Mischievous Greyhound was born. Those who watch the recording for Jenkins’ speech can follow along with the series of illustrations accompanying her storybook-like delivery (as well as a cameo from Jenkins’ real-life greyhound, Reina).

“The combination of strengths — speed, vision, independence and a little mischief — has become a good metaphor for the leader that I’ve become,” Jenkins remarked.

A career in chapters

Breaking the Mischievous Greyhound’s story into three chapters, Jenkins took on a story time cadence talking about her humble beginnings, as the youngest in a poor family, through to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor and developing as a leader — culminating in her current role at UND’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

The path to becoming a doctor wasn’t easy, and early influences convinced the greyhound that she was too poor and lacking in connections to pursue such a career.

Going into chemical engineering seemed like a safe choice but also felt like a disappointing detour, Jenkins said.

When medicine couldn’t leave the back of her mind, the words of her high school guidance counselor reverberated, “You just can’t go to medical school.” But her mother’s words overrode them: “If you don’t try, you don’t get.”

“And so, she did try, and she became a doctor,” Jenkins said.

The greyhound learned that where you start doesn’t define where you go next. Detours can teach and be helpful. Don’t give up on your dreams. And for those with the power to influence others, don’t overlook those with potential, Jenkins said.

Alone at the finish line

The greyhound’s mischievous streak defined much of her leadership journey in the middle years of her career.

The greyhound was passionate about women being underrepresented in medical research. Health care has blind spots that people have learned to tolerate, Jenkins remarked.

Eager to take on the status quo, the greyhound did what she knew best. She raced ahead with magnificence, dodging obstacles and leaping curbs. However, when she turned around, no one was with her.

She didn’t lead anyone to the finish line.

“The mischievous greyhound thought leadership was easy,” Jenkins said. “All you do is talk, talk, talk to people … she was struggling to get people to follow.”

What followed were humbling lessons through mentors and experiences that helped the greyhound become better, particularly in understanding that leadership isn’t about the title, it’s what one does with the title.

This part of the tale represented a productive period of Jenkins’ career, with respect to leadership. At Texas Tech University, she became the founding executive director and chief scientific officer for the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health Research (soon to celebrate its 20th year of operations). She also took on a four-year stint with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health, serving as director of Medical Initiatives and Research Programs. Jenkins then became the dean of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville.

Going back to Jenkins’ story, the Mischievous Greyhound learned that it was ok to let go of the things she built. Also, having her vision delayed didn’t mean surrendering it entirely.

And navigating the pandemic years while she was the dean at South Carolina held the most impactful and challenging moments of the greyhound’s leadership journey.

“She learned to scout out the landscape ahead and learned when it was ok to fall behind and get out of the way to let someone else lead,” Jenkins said.

Finding her pack

In the present day, the Mischievous Greyhound still has her defining qualities, but her style and approach toward leadership are different.

It’s less like, “follow me,” and more like, “let’s sit down and talk,” Jenkins said.

“Even with her amazing greyhound sight, she can’t see everything that others see,” she added. “She also learned that you can only question a system when you talk to the people who live in it.”

When it came to the question of going to North Dakota for the next stage of her career, the greyhound felt like it was a personal mission — developing health care for rural places, opening access to life-improving outcomes. She knew her voice would have the gravity to affect change and encourage others.

“She found her pack, a pack that welcomed her,” Jenkins reflected. “The spirit here is more than friendliness. It is what happens when people believe the purpose is bigger than any one of them alone. Loving her people is the easiest thing of all.”

It’s people first, where leadership is concerned, but mischief still matters, she said.

Sometimes a leader needs to walk through the door of challenging the status quo, or to open the door no one thought to open before. That said, everyone has a role in making change happen.

“Maturity, for this greyhound, is knowing which doors need to be opened and who should walk through them with you,” Jenkins said.

And the detours in life — such as going into chemical engineering before medical school — can sometimes lead to the most important things of all, she said, such as the family Jenkins now has with her husband, three children and their greyhound, Reina.

Jenkins brought Reina onto the stage, in closing. Now on three legs, Reina has had to fight battles of her own, Jenkins remarked.

“She reminds me that just because you’re built for it doesn’t mean that everything is a race,” she said.

“Reina can’t run fast anymore but still has that fierce spirit. It’s ok if you slow down after a while.”