Joyce Saltman

Residence: Milford, CT

Joyce Saltman is a professor of Special Education at

Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT 

she chose to receive her doctoral degree from Columbia, because she loved the color of their doctoral gown. 

It was no small feat that she was able to persuade

her mentor to allow her to write her dissertation on

“Humor in Adult Learning.”  She also holds four graduate

degrees in the fields of Special Education and Counseling.

Joyce’s innovative teaching style has led to the

development of a graduate course entitled.

“The Enhancement of Learning Through Humor,”                       

as well as a summer institute called, “Healing,                               

Education Laughter and Play (HELP). 

In her previous life, her spirit of adventure led her

to appear as a stand-up comedienne for dozens of

organizations and clubs, including Dangerfield’s and

Good Times in New York City.  Unrelated to her

comedic life, she is an elected member of the

Executive Board of the International Society of

Humor Studies.

Her experience in the areas of education, therapy and

comedy have provided an outstanding background for

her research on “The Therapeutic Value of Laughter.” 

Since 1983, when Joyce began lecturing on “Laughter,”

she has been interviewed by national radio and TV

personalities.  Joyce has appeared on ABC News in

New York, P.M. Magazine, the Regis Philbin Morning

Show, For Kid’s Sake, and an ABC Special entitled “

The Mind As Powerful Medicine.”  Her dynamic seminars

and articles, always peppered with humor, address such

topic as dealing with difficult people, laughter as therapy,

parenting, and relationships.  In addition to articles published

in popular magazines, her article on “Humor and Disabilities

appeared in the Disability Studies Quarterly, in 1990. 

Her book “ Sing a Celebration”, was published by Ivory

Tower Press in Fall, 1988.  Most recently, her story entitled,

 “Dearest Last Born” appeared in the 1999 book

Chocolate for a Mother’s Heart compiled by Kay Allenbaugh. 

In addition, Joyce’s article, “Lighten up for Training was

published in the Nov/Dec 1996 Connecticut Yankee and

American  Society for Training and Development. Joyce is

presently working on a book to help teachers and parents

incorporate humorous activities with kids

Intermittently referred to as the “Guru of Laughter,”

and “The Chubby Broad from Brooklyn. Joyce helps

people lighten up wherever she goes!