Joan Cox manages the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy program for Extension and has a rich 23-year background in water resources. She specializes in educational programming and outreach across various water resource topics. Her diverse experience includes aquatic ecology and toxicology field and lab research with the Illinois Natural History Survey, technical roles in soil consulting, and program implementation in Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. She also possesses skills in program evaluation and grant writing, honed during her tenure at EDSTAR Analytics in North Carolina.

Joan holds a degree in Sociology from North Central College. She previously worked to coordinate water research extension to K-12 teachers in Illinois and Indiana through Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Center for Great Lakes Literacy.