Ex-Nun and FBI Pioneer Dies at 83

Joanne Pierce Misko, one of the first two women to be sworn in as FBI special agents after the bureau lifted its gender ban in 1972, has passed away at 83. Her death, caused by a lung infection, was confirmed by her brother, James Pierce.

Born and raised in western New York, Misko’s life was anything but ordinary. Before donning the FBI badge, she spent a decade as a member of the Sisters of Mercy, a Roman Catholic religious order dedicated to education and community service. But in 1970, driven by a desire to explore new challenges, she left the convent to join the FBI as a researcher — one of the limited roles available to women at the time.

“I had always believed in justice,” Misko once said in a 1998 interview. “But back then, I didn’t think the FBI would ever let a woman serve in the field.”

For decades, women were excluded from frontline roles in the FBI. The bureau’s iconic but controversial leader, J. Edgar Hoover, steadfastly opposed their inclusion, arguing that women lacked the physical capability for the job. It wasn’t until Hoover’s death in May 1972 that this policy began to change.

Under the interim leadership of L. Patrick Gray III, the FBI finally opened its ranks to women. Encouraged by her supervisor, Misko applied and was accepted, joining 44 other recruits for training at the newly established FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Among them was another trailblazer: Susan Roley Malone, a former Marine who became Misko’s training partner.

“We didn’t set out to make history,” Malone recalled in a 2012 documentary. “We just wanted to do the job.”

The road to acceptance wasn’t without hurdles. While Misko and Malone received mostly warm welcomes from their fellow recruits, there were occasional moments of skepticism.

“There were a few raised eyebrows when we walked into firearms training,” Misko said during a 2005 panel discussion. “But we proved ourselves, just like everyone else. By the end, we weren’t the ‘women agents’ — we were just agents.”

Their training included mastering the .38 revolver, completing a rigorous two-mile timed run, and internalizing countless rules and procedures. The pair graduated alongside their male counterparts, ready to take on the demanding responsibilities of special agents.

Misko’s FBI career was marked by her commitment to justice and her ability to navigate uncharted territory for women in law enforcement. After retiring from the bureau, she became a mentor to young women pursuing careers in criminal justice.

“Joanne Pierce Misko wasn’t just a pioneer,” said Cynthia Stevens, a former agent who trained under her guidance. “She was proof that resilience and determination can change the world.”

Her story continues to inspire generations, reminding us that even the most entrenched barriers can be dismantled by courage and perseverance.