Joann is a Detroit Artist, Writer, Educator and Curator who has lived and traveled extensively abroad. During the 1980’s she lived with her family in Gambia, West Africa. While there, she helped to establish the first museum in Gambia. However, before she left the U.S., she assisted Mrs. Esther Edwards, sister of Berry Gordy, with the establishment of the first Motown Museum.
While living in Gambia, Joann also completed a series of, now historic drawings, entitled “Music in the Gambia”, and she was also a mentor to many of the young Gambian artists.
In addition, Joann worked for the American Embassy in Gambia where she was the Cultural Advisor to the Ambassador and administrator of the Embassy’s United States Information. Center.
Joann also worked for the President’s Office of the Gambian as Interior Decorator Coordinator for the State House. She also worked with the Woman’s Bureau in Gambia and published the Bureau’s first Woman’s magazine
Returning to the States in the ‘90s, Joann worked as an educator and journalism advisor and was named Detroit’s Journalism Advisor of the Year by the Ford Motor Company in recognition of journalistic skills and leadership in the 1996-1997 Detroit Free Press High School Journalism Program. Joann retired as an educator in 2004.
In March of 2007, Joann received a Spirit of Detroit Award from the City Council of Detroit, Michigan as a Detroit Artist and Scholar in recognition of exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership, and dedication to improving the quality of life in Detroit.
Joann received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wayne State University in 1966.
She received both her Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts Degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus in the ‘70s.
Additionally, in 1978 Joann received an award of excellence from McDonald’s Corporation in recognition of excellent art work in her “Tribute to Jazz in Detroit” fine art exhibit.
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