Joy H Selak, PhD, JoyWrites, author, public speaker

Joy H. Selak has lived with chronic autoimmune, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions since the 1990’s. She and her physcician, Dr. Steve Overman, co-authored the book You Don't LOOK Sick! Living Well with Invisible Chronic Illness, using their shared experience to help others build a meaningul life that contains long term illness.

Prior to becoming ill, Joy earned her Ph.D. in Language Arts Curriculum in Instruction from Arizona State University and taught in the English Department for seven years. She served regionally as a language arts curriculum specialist and published numerous articles on writing and literature. The Arizona State Department of Education cited her for her Outstanding Contribution to Education.

In 1981, she left education to become a financial consultant, rising to the position of Vice President, Investments with Smith Barney in 1987. She taught portfolio management at California Lutheran University and Skagit Valley College and was a speaker to professional colleagues and community groups about building client relationships and investment strategies.

In the 1990's, while living on San Juan Island in Washington State, Joy performed in the San Juan Community Theatre and was chair of the San Juan Island Community Foundation, working to build endowment and meet community needs.

Joy is the current board President of ZACH Theatre, the premier professional theater in Austin, Texas. She is involved in ZACH's education programs and serves MindPOP, an organization dedicated to providing all Austin schoolchildren with an arts rich education. She is a founder of A Legacy of Giving, an organization in Austin that teaches students to become philanthropists through their school curriculum.

In addition to speaking to patient advocacy meetings and conferences nationwide, Joy has been a guest on radio and television programs and on webcasts. She is also a speaker to schools and conferences about the craft of writing and youth philanthropy. She has expertise in strategic analysis and transition leadership.

Joy is married and her very blended family includes six grown children and ten grandchildren, so far.