Joananne (Joanie) B. Coffaro, Ed.D., MBA is a higher education and workforce development leader with more than 25 years of experience spanning corporate leadership, marketing, workforce development, philanthropy, and community engagement. She currently serves as Vice President of External Affairs, Communication & Advancement at Middlesex College, where she leads strategic communications, external affairs, community and government relations, alumni engagement, and fundraising initiatives.
Previously, Joanie served as Executive Director of Workforce Development & Lifelong Learning at Middlesex College and Director of the Workforce Training Center at Raritan Valley Community College, where she led innovative workforce initiatives, industry partnerships, registered apprenticeships, and grant-funded programs. Her career also includes leadership roles with Sanofi-Aventis and Prudential Financial.
A passionate advocate for education, workforce opportunity, and community partnerships, Joanie has served in leadership roles with the National Council for Workforce Education, Middlesex County Workforce Development Board, and Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. She earned her Doctor of Education from the University of New England in 2026, an MBA from Rutgers University, and a B.A.