Joan C Gosnell

Dr. Joan C. Gosnell was born on October 8, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, to her loving Irish American parents, Maureen and John. Raised alongside her siblings, Maureen and Jerry, Joan grew up in a home grounded in strength, kindness, and acceptance of others—values she carried with her throughout her life.

Joan attended several Catholic schools in New York and graduated from Amelia Hall. These formative years deeply shaped her faith, intellect, and character. Her faith remained central to her life, leading her to serve as a Sunday school teacher and to live by the beloved prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

A lifelong music lover, Joan was an avid fan of The Beatles. One of her fondest memories was attending their concert at Shea Stadium in New York City with her best friend. Her love for their music became a treasured legacy she passed on to her children and grandchildren.

In 1968, seeking warmer weather and new opportunities, Joan moved to Miami, Florida. She attended Miami Dade College, where she met her first husband and the father of her three daughters. While balancing motherhood, full-time employment, Joan pursued higher education with determination and purpose, believing education was the pathway to both personal fulfillment and a better life for her family. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Administration from Florida International University.

During her distinguished career at Miami Dade College, Joan met Gary Gosnell, her soulmate and second husband. Together they built a loving home and raised their family with devotion and care.

Joan dedicated 36 years to Miami Dade College, steadily rising through the ranks of administration before becoming a Professor of Political Science. Throughout her remarkable career, she served as Chair and Associate Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Academic Dean at North Campus, and later Executive Dean and Academic Dean at InterAmerican Campus, where she helped establish the campus and launched the college’s first Bachelor’s degree programs in Education. She concluded her tenure as Associate Provost of Faculty Initiatives. Even after retirement, Joan’s passion for education continued as she taught courses at Barry University, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Leadership.

Before retiring, Joan and Gary were blessed with the arrival of their beloved grandchildren, whom they adored. Together, they found joy in gardening, watching movies and television side

by side in their matching recliners. They enjoyed hosting family dinners, holiday gatherings, and creating treasured memories with their children and grandchildren playing board games and card games.

Joan and Gary also shared a love of travel. Among their favorite destinations were Key West, Asheville, Vermont, New Orleans, London, San Francisco, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Joan delighted in viewing the works of her favorite artist, Georgia O’Keeffe. Through every season of life, they provided one another unwavering love and support until Gary’s passing last year.

Above all, Joan was deeply devoted to her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother whose warmth, generosity, and extraordinary spirit touched everyone who knew her. She was the heart of her family—their hero, guide, and source of unconditional love. A true intellectual, she possessed an insatiable curiosity and a lifelong commitment to learning about the world. As the family’s spiritual guide and ethical compass, her influence transcended mere advice, inspiring them through her deep faith.

After a courageous 7-year battle with cancer, Joan passed away peacefully on April 24th, 2026, surrounded by the family she cherished. She lived a life profoundly guided by faith and love, a true instrument of peace, and now finds eternal rest. She is joyfully reunited in heaven with the love of her life, Gary, her parents, her in-laws, and her beloved grandmother. Joan is survived by her daughters, Michelle (Bernard), Jennifer (Karen), and Stephanie; her cherished grandchildren, Natalie, Tiffany, Madison, and Nicolas; her niece, Jessica; her great-nephew, Matthew; and her two beloved fur-grandchildren.