Joan Griffing has served as the academic dean at Hesston College since 2021. She had a long tenure at Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Va.) as violin professor and chair of the music department. Joan decided she wanted to serve students in a broader capacity and made the transition to academics at Hesston College. “The mission and values of Mennonite higher ed have always resonated deeply with me,” says Griffing. “I view my work through the lens of student success. I love helping students find success and supporting faculty to do the hard work in the classroom every day.” Joan has three degrees in violin performance: a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music from Indiana University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Ohio State University. She is a very active musician in the Wichita area and surrounding communities. In her spare time, Joan enjoys spending time with her family hiking in Colorado, cycling and cooking vegan and vegetarian food.