Joe Graba’s career in public education spans forty years and includes an impressive array of leadership positions that reflect the origins and evolution of both his and Education|Evolving’s thinking on system reform and legislative policy. Joe is co-founder of Education|Evolving.

Joe began his career as a science teacher at Wadena Public Schools, and served three years as Vice President of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers. Most recently, he was Dean of Hamline University’s Graduate School of Education. In between, Joe served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives; four years as Chair of Education Finance Committee. Following his legislative service, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Education for the State of Minnesota, Director of Minnesota’s Technical College System, Deputy Executive Director of the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Interim Executive Director of the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office. Beyond Minnesota, Joe was Chair of the Education Committee of the Midwest Conference of the Council of State Governments and a member of the Education Task Force of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Joe received his undergraduate degree from Bemidji State University and has done graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado and Bemidji State University.