Joy H Selak PhD

In defining who I am, what I can do best and how I can be of value, I’ve settled on three areas of focus: Creativity, Communication and Compassion. Often in my work as a philanthropic advisor and communications consultant, all three are blended together and all are needed to successfully complete a project.

When I work with clients to help them meet their philanthropic goals or deepen relationships with stakeholders, I bring a deep and diverse background to the task. In the quiet time, I have the luxury of writing, going to another place and weaving a story for others to read, enjoy and, I hope, find their own meaning.

PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR & COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

In my role as a philanthropic advisor, and with a certification from the American College of Financial Services as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®, I have collaborated with clients to identify philanthropic priorities, research giving options, develop the best strategies and evaluate results. I am comfortable working with nonprofit organizations, financial advisors, private philanthropists and corporations. I am dedicated to lifting up philanthropy and deepening relationships with stakeholders through communication, education and advocacy.

My clients have had a focus in education, the arts, health care, social services and financial aid. My contributions to their missions have included 501c3 formation, strategic planning, communications, including web content, as well as project design and implementation. As a former development director, I am capable in preparing the tools for donor cultivation and grant writing.

FOUNDER, LEADER & STRATEGIST

The skills I have learned in the nonprofit sector complement those gained in other professional roles. I was a founder of two organizations dedicated to supporting philanthropy, San Juan Island Community Foundation and A Legacy of Giving, a youth philanthropy organization. At Austin’s ZACH Theatre, I was able to lead in many roles, including Board President, and learn from our excellent staff and trustees in over 15 years of service. I am honored to now be an Honorary Lifetime Member of the ZACH Board.

As an investment advisor and Vice President with Smith Barney, now Morgan Stanley, I helped clients plan for the future, whether it was to invest assets from a home or business sale, generate income, save for retirement or provide an education for their children. I worked for 14 years to help my clients realize their goals, managing over $130 million in diverse assets and was among only 5% of women who attained the title of Vice President in this field. Whether I am working to select appropriate investments, support effective giving, build a nonprofit from the ground up or collaborate with leaders to solve organizational problems I bring experience, acquired over many years, to the task. 

Engaging in all forms of communication transports me to ideas bigger than myself. From my doctoral dissertation on The Image of the Family in Young Adult Literature, to a K-12 language arts curriculum called the Blueprint for Communication that was adopted by three school districts. From acting and singing in community theatre to writing an original play. And through the publication of two editions of a book for people who are told You Don't LOOK Sick, my co-author and I toured the country to speak at conferences and give interviews in support of our readers, letting them know that while their illness could not be seen, they were seen.

With my second novel, CeeGee's Gift, I share a simple story of a deep friendship between a young girl and an old man and how they learn what it means to be gifted. The message has inspired me for decades, reminding me that the reason we are here on earth is to discover our gifts and then learn to give them for the benefit of others. Whether speaking to an audience, teaching a class, or writing a book, my focus is on sharing the best I have to offer as a way to help others discover and give their own gifts. 

I am now completing the manuscript of my 3rd book, a memoir. In writing From Mid-Century to Modern, One Woman’s Journey from Schoolteacher to Stockbroker, I share my experience coming of age in the last decades of the 20th Century, a time of monumental change for women, culturally, legally and socially. Those changes opened many doors, and while it was not always easy to get through them, opportunities were there. My story is a journey from trauma to recovery, from illness to health and hard work that led to success.