As Joanne Quinn Moffatt ’70 ends her seven-year tenure on the Alumni Association Board and four-year term as president, she looked back on the defining moments of her time at Emmanuel, her distinguished career as a human-resources professional, and her legacy as an active, engaged, and generous Alumna.
Moffatt's passion for human resources and employee relations was sparked as an undergraduate at Emmanuel, where she enrolled in a course that included a history of the labor movement. This interest led her to pursue an M.S. program at UMass — Amherst focused on labor relations. She paused her master's program to accept a job opportunity and later enrolled in MBA courses to further enhance her knowledge and effectiveness.
She began her career in the public sector, working with women with dependent children receiving public assistance. “I realized all the obstacles they had to face that I certainly didn't have to encounter when going to college and establishing a career,” she said.
After her stint in the public sector, Moffatt shifted to private industry, taking a series of positions in the manufacturing and high-tech sectors. Navigating varied corporate cultures—from family-owned enterprises to international firms, Moffatt accumulated a wealth of experience. Her roles encompassed all facets of human resources, including recruitment, employee relations, benefits and compensation, leadership development, and strategic management.
Moffatt's commitment to fostering inclusive and productive workplace environments and advocating for employee rights and organizational integrity were priorities throughout her career.
“An inclusive workplace isn't just a policy—it's the core of a thriving, ethical organization where every voice is valued and integrity guides every decision,” she said. Moffatt credits Emmanuel for imparting these values — and so many more. “Emmanuel instilled in me integrity, fortitude, resilience, and the ability to navigate different situations,” she said. “The College provided women an opportunity to develop leadership skills in a very male-dominated business environment, where you could certainly collaborate but couldn't necessarily compete quite as readily.”