Joanne Caniglia earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics at John Carroll University and her masters in mathematics at Youngstown State University. She was a secondary teacher and department chair in Niles and Akron, Ohio for 12 years and spent time as a graduate researcher at Kent State University where she received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Mathematics Education. She taught for 14 years at Eastern Michigan University where she was Professor of Mathematics Education. While there she was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award and the Governor's Award for Distinguished Teaching. Her research activities include creating meaningful mathematical tasks to assist secondary and special education students. She is a PI and Co-PI for many National Science Foundation and Board of Regents initiatives.