Joe Klausner joined the Karin L. Bone Athletics Study Center in August of 2012. He was named Director of Life Skills in November of 2016, and promoted to Associate Athletics Director of Academics and Life Skills in January 2024.

Klausner is the academic coordinator for student-athletes competing in baseball, as well as women’s golf and women’s tennis. He plays an integral role in student service programming efforts and oversees the career and personal development programming initiatives for all Redbird student-athletes.

Klausner has served in an athletic student services capacity since 2008. Prior to his work at Illinois State, he worked as an athletics academic coordinator at the University of Iowa from November of 2010 through August of 2012. During his tenure at Iowa, Klausner worked with various Olympic sports and played an essential role in the development of diversity programming initiatives within the department, spearheading the Diversity FOCUS Group. Klausner was responsible for monitoring academic progress and eligibility, teaching the student-athlete transition seminar and tutor training and coordination.

Prior to becoming an athletics academic coordinator, he was an intern and tutored at-risk football and men’s basketball student-athletes in the retention/LINK program. In addition to tutoring, he contributed to multiple departmental and campus programming committees, and served as a mentor and learning specialist to student-athletes.

A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Klausner earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and his master’s degree in sports leadership from Duquesne University. Klausner owns an individual certification from the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A).

Klausner resides in Normal, Illinois, with his dog, Barkley.