Sister Joan taught in elementary schools in Kansas and taught English and history in high schools in Kansas and New Jersey.  She taught and worked in the library at Donnelly College, Mount St. Scholastica College, and Benedictine College.  She was also a staff member at Shalom House and assistant director of the Mount Community Center.  In her retirement, she helped with the monastery library and was editor of Benedictine Magazine and later helped with proofreading.