Joe Edens currently serves as Director of Advancement for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences with the University at Buffalo. Compelled by his experience as a first-generation college student, Joe carries a lifelong devotion to higher education and to helping to pay forward that life-transforming opportunity to the next generation.

After several years in student affairs, Joe entered advancement at Virginia Tech in 2017 and has since served on annual giving, leadership giving, and major gift teams at institutions of varying size and type. Over this time, Joe has contributed to several comprehensive campaigns at multiple stages, including the quiet phase of the $1.5B Boundless Impact campaign at Virginia Tech, the successful conclusion of the $250M Building Lives for the World campaign at Bowling Green State University, and the ongoing $1B Boldly Buffalo campaign at the University at Buffalo.

Joe is an active member of his community as a board member with several nonprofit organizations and has advised on their capital and comprehensive campaigns.

Joe earned a B.S. in Secondary Education from Bowling Green State University and a M.Ed. in Higher Education from Virginia Tech. He currently resides in Bowling Green, Ohio with his spouse, Jessica, pug dog, Porky, and enjoys the outdoors, curling, and a good cup of coffee.