Joe Draves is passionate about offering young people a complete education that can be a refuge and oasis in the world, one that corresponds to the way they’ve been created and their purpose in life. Joe believes a truly Catholic education can ignite young people to freely embrace the truth that their lives were made for Jesus Christ and avoid unnecessary heartache and lack of purpose in their young adult years.

Joe’s unique combination of skills from the corporate world, theological studies, and non-profit work has been an extraordinary blessing to the school. After receiving a B.B.A. from UW-Madison, he held leadership roles at Kimberly-Clark for ten years. He then transitioned to lead fundraising for Relevant Radio while pursuing a master’s in theology from Ave Maria before coming to St. Ambrose. Loyal, driven, and with a clear sense of our faith and the formation of the human person, Joe relishes building relationships with school supporters in order to do the Lord’s work in helping form the next generation of Catholics. 

Joe and his wife Julie have seven children, with four currently enrolled at St. Ambrose. When not busy with parish life at St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff or school activities, Joe and his family enjoy spending time outside playing tennis, soccer, and kayaking.