Joe K. Giffen IV, Ed.D.

Dr. Joe Giffen, Associate Director, oversees the department’s advising and counseling strategies, internship and co-ops, financial awards, process improvement, and works on long-term strategy for the office.  

Joe has completed his Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with a focus on Social Justice from the University of Dayton. Additionally, Joe completed a Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Affairs from Youngstown State University and his Bachelor of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration from Kent State University.   

Before accepting his role at Kent State, Joe was the Career Coach for all STEM students at Augustana College in Illinois. He previously worked in college and professional sports ticketing, sales, and sponsorship for four universities, two baseball teams, and a golf company. Joe was also briefly a head of gameday security for a baseball team in Ohio and provided gameday security consulting for clients. Joe also served in the Army from 2009-2015, when he was honorably discharged. In 2013 he completed one combat tour to Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom as a part of Task Force 3-10.   

When he isn’t working, Joe enjoys spending time with his family, playing games of any type, and watching the New England Patriots win Super Bowls.