Dr. Joseph C. Joyce was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He obtained his B.S. and M.S. at the University of Alabama, and later obtained his Ph.D from the University of Florida in Forest Resources and Conservation. His first professional experience began in 1972 with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The highlight of his career with the Corps was leading a successful effort to more effectively manage the invasive water hyacinth in waters of the State of Florida. Those programs are still in effect today.
In 1983, Dr. Joyce joined the UF/IFAS faculty as the Director of the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. He has also served UF/IFAS as the Director of the Center for Natural Resources, as Interim Dean for Research and Interim Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He served as the Senior Associate Vice President for 20 plus years and will serve as Director of the IFAS Center for Leadership until his retirement later this year. Dr. Joyce also served in the Army Reserves for over 28 years and retired at the rank of Brigadier General.
Among Dr. Joyce’s significant contributions to Florida agriculture included the oversight of IFAS fiscal/budget operations, personnel administration, information technology, and facilities planning, operations and management. During his tenure as Associate Vice President, IFAS closed and/or consolidated nine locations and added a net of over 800,000 square feet of new, state-of-the art research, teaching and extension space across the state to serve the needs of Florida agriculture. Dr. Joyce played a key role in the development of a workload increase funding formula, a new funding model for IFAS research and extension programs. The proposal was adopted by the Florida Board of Governors and is used to request funding from the Florida Legislature. As a result, IFAS receives funds to fill needed faculty positions in support of Florida agriculture. Dr. Joyce also oversaw the reorganization of the IFAS Business Office. He downsized the operations and redirected the resources into faculty salaries, moved positions and resources to the unit level. He oversaw several extensive external reviews of IFAS which documented IFAS’ service to the state and demonstrated the value of IFAS’ support of the state’s second leading economic sector – agriculture.
Dr. Joyce and his wife, Pam, reside in Gainesville. They have two sons and five grandsons.
