FLIPPABLE: Joy Koesten for KS-SD11
Dr. Joy Koesten -- intelligent, level-headed, ethical, hard-working. A seasoned facilitator and collaborator, Joy has proven she can work across party lines to get things done. Her unwavering commitment during the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions honed her ability to truly represent the needs of her constituents.
Joy has the ability to connect with people while staying true to her beliefs. She knows how to build relationships and create alliances with diverse stakeholders. As a trained facilitator, Joy brings differing viewpoints to the table for winning outcomes. During her time in the Kansas House, Joy was part of the bi-partisan coalition that worked to put Kansas back on track after the disastrous Brownback tax cuts, giving us a stronger footing to face the current financial crisis.
Her caucus involvement reflects her passionate advocacy for disenfranchised, marginalized, and vulnerable segments of our community as co-chair of the Mental Health Caucus, founding member of the Early Childhood Caucus, and member of the Women’s Caucus.
Joy knows that no public servant can serve every interest in a diverse state. Rather than push a political agenda, she operates in the spirit of negotiation and cooperation to best represent diverse interests. In late 2018, when Joy decided the Republican Party no longer represented her values or the shared priorities of her community, she joined the Democratic Party. Although her party affiliation changed, her principles, passions, and commitment to serving Kansans remains the same.
Joy grew up in a family business and knows first-hand the challenges that small businesses face, even in the best of times. When she and her husband, Stewart, founded their own business in 1996, their company culture valued shared decision-making and investment in people. Joy is no longer involved in the day-to-day operation of the firm, but she remains committed to helping small business owners survive this difficult time.
Public education has been the center of Joy's professional life for over three decades. With a PhD in Communication Studies, she has served on the faculty at Washburn University and all three campuses of the University of Kansas. She also taught in our public schools and at JCCC. More importantly, Joy understands that the needs of the workforce must be front and center to develop talented workers when we emerge from this crisis. She stands ready to work with employers and educators to create a pathway to success for all.
Joy is a long-time advocate for individuals and families who suffer from mental health and addiction disorders. For over a decade, she and Stewart struggled to find adequate services within our state’s health system when their daughter faced a mental health crisis.
Because of their own family’s experience, Joy served as an advocate and community facilitator for Kansas National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), leading classes for parents and other family caregivers whose loved ones were struggling with a mental health condition. In 2019, Joy and Stewart, created an Endowed Professorship in Behavioral and Mental Health at Children’s Mercy to support local research efforts focused on understanding and curbing the epidemic of teenage anxiety, depression, addiction, and suicide.
Joy has also served as a board member and and trained advocate for neglected and abused children at on the board of Jackson County CASA.
Joy and Stewart have two grown daughters. Leah lives in the Nashville area; Natalie and her husband, Thom, are raising their two beautiful grandchildren in Murfreesboro, TN.
https://www.joykoesten.com/
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