Joan joined DUG in '83 doing a tiny bit of survey work initially but soon became fascinated with FRCS archaeology. She took a cave archaeology course at Western Ky U with PJ Watson and became even more fascinated. Joan had a paper published in '86 on Early Woodland slippers then worked for Ky Heritage Council placing replicated slippers in Ky museums. She worked for ten years at Mammoth Cave Archaeology on weekends.

Joan has a private life, too:
She taught school at Fairlawn Mental Health Hospital for 17 years, retired and moved to Port Huron and is currently working at Port Huron Museum of Art and History as Coordinator of Volunteers and display maker (more creative and much more fun). Her latest project: getting proper identification of what appears to be a Mississipian earth embankment in Port Huron. Joan moved to Birmingham in late 1999 and to everyones relief, been able to again host the grotto meetings.