Joan is a native New Englander who got a BA at UMASS Amherst, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Art History. She received a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Sixth Level Certificate in Vocational Rehabilitation from Springfield College. Joan took a year to work as a psychologist at The Kennedy Center in Connecticut. She then went to the U of Georgia to do her PhD studies and as part of this degree, did an internship at the U of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore. Joan did her PhD dissertation research under the supervision of Dr. Horsely Gantt, who briefly worked with Pavlov in Russia.
After receiving her PhD, Joan worked at Maryland Institute for Children and did part time teaching at Baltimore Community College. She then became a Director at the Virginia School for Contemporary Education. Following these experiences, Joan worked in private practice in Maryland until she retired in 2018.
During these years Joan traveled to approximately 80 countries, was a member of several book clubs and held office in a number of NAIC investment clubs. She is a regular attendee at museums, concerts, opera, and theater. She is also a birder.
Joan joined AWIU circa 2000 at the recommendation of Bette Rothstein and Laura Schuldt. She served a DC Chapter Chair for several years and was on the Delegation Committee and on the Board of Directors. She has proudly brought in a number of new members to AWIU.
