She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from West Chester State University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in psychology from N. C. State University, and a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of South Carolina. Griffin is currently on a leave of absence from N.C. A&T State University, where she has held a faculty position since 1989. Prior to joining the faculty there, she was on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Griffin is teaching in the areas of financial and managerial accounting.