Joanna Courteau

Unable to gather for a memorial service Joanna Courteau, who was active in welcoming international students and visitors to Ames since she arrived in 1973, KHOI prepared a tribute for Local Talk. Gathering for a ZOOM call were former student Gary Stahl (from his UNICEF office in Geneva) , Teresa Satterfield, a friend and colleague who told how Joanna nurtured all students she knew, Roberta Vann of Iowa State, and Mijka Jankwiak, a member of the "Polish club," described her way of bringing people of all ages and nationalities together in unforgettable ways.  Greta Anderson and Alex Fejfer of the Ames Historical Society told how Joanna worked with other volunteers to honor the "Martin House," home to the first black students at Iowa State. We concluded with an unforgettable story "Hermit No More" by Joanna herself recorded for Moth Radio, (check the link https://themoth.org/storytellers/joanna-courteau).