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'''Joanne Pierce Misko''' was an American nun and FBI agent who, in 1972, was one of the first women to join the FBI as an agent.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/us/joanne-pierce-misko-dead.html</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/unknown-stories/unknown-stories-of-wny-before-this-wny-nun-the-fbi-had-none/71-6c633ee6-d4f0-42b6-93e8-ff1e389c5932|title=Unknown Stories of WNY: WNY nun first woman to be a Special Agent in the FBI|date=October 25, 2022|website=wgrz.com}}</ref>
{{Short description|FBI agent (1941-2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image = FBI Agent Joanne Pierce Misko.jpg
| caption = Misko in 2012
| birth_name = Joanne Eileen Pierce
| birth_place = [[Niagara Falls, New York]], U.S.
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|01|07}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|12|13|1941|01|07}}
| death_place = [[Wheatfield, New York]], U.S.
}}
⚫
'''Joanne Pierce Misko''' (January 7, 1941 - December 13, 2024) was an American nun and [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent who, in 1972, was one of the first women to join the FBI as an agent.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Risen |first=Clay |date=2024-12-19 |title=Joanne Pierce Misko, Ex-Nun Who Made F.B.I. History, Dies at 83 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/us/joanne-pierce-misko-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220061122/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/us/joanne-pierce-misko-dead.html |archive-date=2024-12-20 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/unknown-stories/unknown-stories-of-wny-before-this-wny-nun-the-fbi-had-none/71-6c633ee6-d4f0-42b6-93e8-ff1e389c5932|title=Unknown Stories of WNY: WNY nun first woman to be a Special Agent in the FBI|date=October 25, 2022|website=wgrz.com}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Joanne Eileen Pierce was born in [[Niagara Falls, New York]], to homemaker Ann (Egan) Pierce and Howard Pierce, who worked at a chemical company.<ref name=":0" /> Pierce grew up in Niagara Falls, and attended the local Catholic high school.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Joanne Pierce Misko {{!}} Catholic Nun to FBI Special Agent |url=https://www.discoverniagara.org/joanne-pierce-misko-from-catholic-nun-to-special-agent-to-the-fbi |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Niagara Falls National Heritage Area |language=en}}</ref>

Pierce joined the [[Sisters of Mercy]] in western New York in 1960, remaining with them for 10 years. While a sister, she earned a bachelor's degree in social science education from [[Medaille College]] in 1965, and in 1970 completed a master's degree in history from [[St. Bonaventure University]]. She worked as an educator throughout the decade, teaching history in high schools in Niagara Falls and [[Orleans County, New York|Orleans County]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="pioneer">{{cite news | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/306521961/110B43246F7847D8PQ/5?accountid=196403&sourcetype=Newspapers | title=Pioneering ex-nun an agent of change, and of the FBI | work=The Evening Sun | date=1994-09-01 | accessdate=December 22, 2024 | pages=1A | id={{ProQuest|306521961}} }}</ref>

== FBI career ==
Pierce became interested in a job at the FBI after a recruiter visited [[Mount Mercy Academy (Buffalo, New York)|Mount Mercy Academy]], the school in [[South Buffalo, Buffalo|South Buffalo]] that she was teaching at.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Pierce had already been considering leaving, as she was interested in getting married and having children.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />

In 1970, Pierce moved to Washington, D.C. and joined the FBI in 1970 as a researcher, one of few jobs in the organization open to women at the time. In May 1972, FBI interim director L. Patrick Gray III changed policy, allowing women to become agents. Pierce applied, and she and [[Susan Roley Malone]] became the organization's first female agents after they underwent a 14-week training program at the [[FBI Academy]] in [[Quantico, Virginia]], finishing in October 1972.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-17 |title=Celebrating Women Special Agents, Part 2 |url=https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/celebrating-women-special-agents-part-2 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Federal Bureau of Investigation |language=en-us}}</ref> During training, the two women became known as "the Nun" and "the Marine".<ref name=":3" />

Pierce's first posting as an agent was in [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]], where she focused on [[White-collar crime|white-collar crimes]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2012-07-17 |title=Celebrating Women Special Agents: Joanne Pierce Misko |url=https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/celebrating-women-special-agents-joanne-pierce-misko |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |language=en-us}}</ref> In early 1973, she acted in the FBI response to the [[Wounded Knee Occupation]] on the [[Pine Ridge Indian Reservation]] in South Dakota.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> In the late 1970s,<ref name=":3" /> Pierce became "one of the first female supervisors at [[FBI Headquarters]]," working in the unit processing agent applications.<ref name=":2" /> She later worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "where she pursued fugitives and military deserters".<ref name=":0" /> There, she met fellow agent Michael Misko (d. 2021), whom she married in 1981.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

She retired from the FBI in 1994, and went to work as an audit investigator in a bank.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> At the time of her retirement, she had been "the longest-tenured female agent in FBI history".<ref name=":3" />

Misko said that she generally faced little resistance within the FBI for her gender, although in 1994 she did file a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, saying she had not been promoted because of her gender.<ref name="suit">{{cite news | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/306720529/110B43246F7847D8PQ/3?accountid=196403&sourcetype=Newspapers | title=FBI named in Fla. gender-bias suit | work=The Evening Sun | date=1994-09-08 | accessdate=December 22, 2024 | author=Marshall, Steve | pages=03A | id={{ProQuest|306720529}} }}</ref> The suit was settled in 1996.<ref name=":0" /> On the job, Misko said she could use her gender to her advantage, as many suspects did not think she could be an agent.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Misko died of a lung infection in [[Wheatfield, New York]], aged 83.<ref name=":0" />

== Awards and recognition ==

* 1995 Lifetime Law Enforcement Achievement Award, [[American Police Hall of Fame & Museum|American Police Hall of Fame]]<ref name=":0" />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Misko, Joanne Pierce}}
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American educators]]
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{{improve categories|date=December 2024}}
[[Category:20th-century American women educators]]
[[Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic nuns]]
[[Category:20th-century American women]]
[[Category:Educators from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Federal Bureau of Investigation agents]]
[[Category:Medaille College]]
[[Category:People from Niagara Falls, New York]]
[[Category:Sisters of Mercy]]
[[Category:St. Bonaventure University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 22:17, 22 December 2024

Joanne Pierce Misko
Misko in 2012
Born
Joanne Eileen Pierce

(1941-01-07)January 7, 1941
Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 2024(2024-12-13) (aged 83)
Wheatfield, New York, U.S.

Joanne Pierce Misko (January 7, 1941 - December 13, 2024) was an American nun and FBI agent who, in 1972, was one of the first women to join the FBI as an agent.[1][2]

Early life

[edit]

Joanne Eileen Pierce was born in Niagara Falls, New York, to homemaker Ann (Egan) Pierce and Howard Pierce, who worked at a chemical company.[1] Pierce grew up in Niagara Falls, and attended the local Catholic high school.[3]

Pierce joined the Sisters of Mercy in western New York in 1960, remaining with them for 10 years. While a sister, she earned a bachelor's degree in social science education from Medaille College in 1965, and in 1970 completed a master's degree in history from St. Bonaventure University. She worked as an educator throughout the decade, teaching history in high schools in Niagara Falls and Orleans County.[1][4]

FBI career

[edit]

Pierce became interested in a job at the FBI after a recruiter visited Mount Mercy Academy, the school in South Buffalo that she was teaching at.[1][2] Pierce had already been considering leaving, as she was interested in getting married and having children.[1][3]

In 1970, Pierce moved to Washington, D.C. and joined the FBI in 1970 as a researcher, one of few jobs in the organization open to women at the time. In May 1972, FBI interim director L. Patrick Gray III changed policy, allowing women to become agents. Pierce applied, and she and Susan Roley Malone became the organization's first female agents after they underwent a 14-week training program at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, finishing in October 1972.[1][5] During training, the two women became known as "the Nun" and "the Marine".[3]

Pierce's first posting as an agent was in St. Louis, Missouri, where she focused on white-collar crimes.[1][6] In early 1973, she acted in the FBI response to the Wounded Knee Occupation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.[1][6] In the late 1970s,[3] Pierce became "one of the first female supervisors at FBI Headquarters," working in the unit processing agent applications.[6] She later worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "where she pursued fugitives and military deserters".[1] There, she met fellow agent Michael Misko (d. 2021), whom she married in 1981.[1][6]

She retired from the FBI in 1994, and went to work as an audit investigator in a bank.[1][6] At the time of her retirement, she had been "the longest-tenured female agent in FBI history".[3]

Misko said that she generally faced little resistance within the FBI for her gender, although in 1994 she did file a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, saying she had not been promoted because of her gender.[7] The suit was settled in 1996.[1] On the job, Misko said she could use her gender to her advantage, as many suspects did not think she could be an agent.[1][2]

Misko died of a lung infection in Wheatfield, New York, aged 83.[1]

Awards and recognition

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Risen, Clay (2024-12-19). "Joanne Pierce Misko, Ex-Nun Who Made F.B.I. History, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-12-20.
  2. ^ a b c "Unknown Stories of WNY: WNY nun first woman to be a Special Agent in the FBI". wgrz.com. October 25, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Joanne Pierce Misko | Catholic Nun to FBI Special Agent". Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  4. ^ "Pioneering ex-nun an agent of change, and of the FBI". The Evening Sun. 1994-09-01. pp. 1A. ProQuest 306521961. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Celebrating Women Special Agents, Part 2". Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Celebrating Women Special Agents: Joanne Pierce Misko". Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  7. ^ Marshall, Steve (1994-09-08). "FBI named in Fla. gender-bias suit". The Evening Sun. pp. 03A. ProQuest 306720529. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
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