I want to take a moment to share a bit about myself—Joshua L. Ferris. Many of you know my name, but here’s some background on my journey.

I grew up in rural northwest Ohio, where I lived until I was 19. Though most people wouldn’t guess it, I was raised on a working farm with animals, crops, and the summer ritual of baling hay—a job I both dreaded and learned from. In the fall of 2000, I left home and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to attend the University of Pittsburgh.

At Pitt, I immersed myself in student organizations dedicated to social justice and activism. One of the most defining experiences of my life came during those years: the fight to secure healthcare benefits for the domestic partners of Pitt employees. It was a long, difficult struggle, but in September 2004, we won. Alongside activism, I earnED a double major in Religious Studies and History, with a particular focus on the ancient world and the cults of classical Greece.

In 2007, I moved to Quito, Ecuador, where I worked as an elementary school teacher. That time abroad reshaped my perspective and taught me invaluable lessons about living and what actually mattered to me. I loved my years in South America, but by May 2009, that chapter came to a close.

Back in the U.S., I pursued graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, where I earned a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management in 2010. My research explored poverty analysis and the role of organized labor in addressing poverty. Since then, I’ve dedicated much of my professional life to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), continuing my commitment to economic and social justice.

Along the way, I also studied Organization Development at Georgetown University, which deepened my understanding of leadership and change. I’ve kept traveling—these days with a bit more comfort than in my twenties—and I’ve continued to ground myself in the simple joys I love: biking, listening to music, and soaking up the beauty of nature in the Poconos.