Joan Baker
Joan, an American author, actor, voiceover artist, and on-camera host, is the Co-founder, CCO, and Secretary of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences™ (SOVAS™). Leading this international nonprofit, Joan spearheads the renowned That’s Voiceover!™ Career Expo and the distinguished Voice Arts® Awards, hailed by Good Morning America as the Oscars of Voice Actors. Along with various initiatives providing invaluable training, education, scholarships, and career counseling for aspiring voice actors, Joan has worked with legendary talents such as James Earl Jones, Viola Davis, Mark Hamill, Keith David, Lily Tomlin, Muhammad Ali, William Shatner, Michael Buffer, Rosario Dawson, Ken Burns, Sigourney Weaver, Laraine Newman, and Ving Rhames.
In addition to her work with SOVAS™, Joan has served as a juror for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, evaluating entries for the Daytime Emmys and Children’s & Family Emmys since 2022.
A beacon in the voiceover community, Joan holds the distinguished role of Columbia University Graduate Drama Class instructor and shares her expertise with students at New York University, Kentucky University, Actors Institute (NYC), and New York’s Professional Performing Arts School. Her mission transcends borders as she imparts wisdom garnered from a career intertwined with teaching and advocacy.
As the author of Secrets of Voice-Over Success, Joan has chronicled the career trajectories of 21 top voice actors, contributing significantly to the understanding of this dynamic field. Her book’s explorations into the incredible impact of the voiceover industry have, in turn, opened up boundless possibilities for aspiring individuals looking to break into this creative realm.
A recipient of multiple Telly Awards and Promax/BDA Awards, her voice resonates across prominent channels like, CBS Sports, ESPN, ABC’s The View, HBO, and Grand Theft Auto. Products like American Express, Coke, Walmart. On A&E, she graces screens as the on-camera host for Tribeca Film Festival Red Carpet Interviews.
Beyond her professional accolades, Joan is a philanthropist at heart, featured in notable publications such as The New York Times, Washington Post, and Hollywood Reporter , Vulture, Deadline, Variety for her commitment to giving back. From her Manhattan studio in the Ed Sullivan Building, she coaches students in the nuances of professional voice acting, from novice to seasoned pro.
In 2022, Joan embraced a new role as an adjunct professor at the Hartt Theatre Division at the University of Hartford, pioneering the institution’s inaugural voice acting curriculum. Currently residing in Weehawken, New Jersey, Joan continues to shape the voiceover landscape with her husband and business partner, Rudy Gaskins, embodying a commitment to excellence, education, and philanthropy. Join Joan in reshaping the voice arts industry into a tapestry of diverse brilliance.
