Born in Grand Rapids and raised in Hudsonville, Joseph is a proud son of the great State of Michigan. Always enamored with political philosophy and the humanities, he earned a B.A. in Political Science from Grand Valley State University. While at GVSU, he worked in the Charter Schools Office and University Archives. After graduating, he spent two years in formation for the Catholic Priesthood, subsequently teaching history and philosophy of art at a Catholic classical academy and working in the trades.