Leveraging Story with Dr. Julie Mathiesen

Her story is one of being a true innovator from the moment she pursued a “rare air” doctorate in Educational Technology. Using story as a powerful truth-telling about claiming authenticity, Julie constantly has charted new ground - including a year of wandering - and talks about how “We have to just push through our fears of worrying about disruption and figure out how to make those disruptions work in a way that gets us to our mission.”  

Julie Mathiesen, Ed.D. is the Director of Technology and Innovation in Education (TIE) in South Dakota providing executive  leadership for a statewide education organization with a multimillion-dollar budget.  Through her work, educators and leaders are empowered with professional learning experiences merging education and technology.  TIE serves a range of entities, including historically under-served and at-risk populations.

Julie was the recipient of the prestigious Bush Fellowship which enabled her take a two-year leave from her work and achieve a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University in California.  She has a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, both from Black Hills State University in South Dakota.

Previously Dr. Mathiesen worked as an Education Technology Specialist for TIE and as a Program Director for Three Rivers Special Services Cooperative.  In the genesis of her career,  Julie taught art and biology at the high school level.  She serves on numerous professional boards and committees, and is a sought after national speaker within her field.  Julie and her husband Steve had two grown children, Sienna and Sawyer, and live in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.