Joe Dennis

Joe Dennis doesn’t write as much these days, not because he’s out of words, but because students fill his office daily, needing someone to listen. A journalism professor with a heart for mental health; Joe has become a safe space for students dealing with anxiety, identity struggles and personal crises.

“They needed someone to be there for them,” he says simply. And so he is.

Raised in Georgia and shaped by a childhood in Catholic school, Dennis didn’t get mental health support growing up. During his battle with depression from a young age, he realized the power of being seen and heard. That experience now fuels his work for journalism, from his blogs on student well-being to the space he creates for those who need to talk.

During an interview, Dennis says, “They just needed someone to talk to.. They just needed someone to vent. They needed to know they weren’t alone. That I was there and they needed people to support them, and that really inspired me.”

Before teaching, Dennis lived in Monroe, Georgia, where he covered the heartbreaking story of a judge waiting for a liver transplant. The man died before receiving one, and the experience moved Dennis so deeply that he became a liver donor himself. It was a reminder of how stories and the people behind them can change lives.

Dennis, who proudly embraces his Filipino heritage, has always navigated the world as someone a little different. Growing up in Chicago, he saw firsthand how race shaped communities and opportunities. Those experiences appear in his writing and in how he teaches – with empathy, honesty and lived experience.

His favorite artist is Kesha, having each song for each mood.

“If I’m looking to get pumped up, like if I’m looking to you know, dominate the day, I’d probably listen to Blow,” Dennis said.

He is also very fond the emotional ballad, “Praying,” which speaks to him in different ways – whether it’s about letting go, standing up or forgiving someone who’s hurt you.

He’s known for his love of Kesha songs, his cooking inspired by his mom’s Filipinos recipes, his matching tattoo with his son and, of course, his collection of fedoras. The hat started as a dare from a friend. He kept it on – and made it his thing. Like the hat, Joe Dennis stands out quietly but meaningfully, reminding every student he meets that they matter.