Joan Ruffier has worked in the corporate world as a Certified Public Accountant and small business owner. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business (Rollins College). She also is a product of Orange County Public Schools, having graduated from Edgewater High School.

Joan is a former member of the State Board of Regents, and chaired that governing body of the state university and community college system from 1987-1989. She was the first woman to hold that position. In addition, she is a former member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Jacksonville Branch) and former president of the University of Florida Foundation.

She currently serves on many corporate boards, including the FPIC Insurance Group, the Winter Park Health Foundation and the University of Florida Foundation. Joan and her husband Dan have three children and four grandchildren.