Lori Joseph, Ph.D., wove an array of communication expertise and knowledge into her communication studies classes. Following her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, she began a career in academics, her third career after successful roles as a public relations director for a major medical clinic and as an addiction educator and counselor. Throughout her Hollins tenure, she inspired numerous students to pursue careers in public relations or health communication.

Joseph’s teaching approach was centered on developing close bonds with her students, balancing humor with high expectations, theoretical knowledge with practical experience in all of her classes.

Her research on collecting and analyzing the narratives of women in male-dominated occupations led to her own passion project, One Helluva Hand, a short documentary about female ranchers in Montana, followed by a second documentary in 2011, One Helluva Hand 2, funded by a grant from the Montana Arts Foundation.

Joseph served as chair of the faculty from 2009 to 2011, working to improve communication between the Trustees and the faculty. She served as founding director of the First Year Internship program and chaired the 2019 committee that developed and launched Hollins’ new major/minor in Public Health.