Joseph D. Josselyn is the CEO of Deaf Missions. In 1997, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Television from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. with a desire to produce and direct films as well as to be a cinematographer when not directing. In 2003, he married Nicole and they have five children - the older two are Deaf and adopted from Liberia.

During his college years, he produced six comedy sitcom episodes and a 40-minute film. After graduation from Gallaudet, he enjoyed making short clips for the college’s television department before moving to California to work for DawnSignPress, a sign language publishing company. In 2006, he joined Deaf Missions in Iowa as the Chief Media Officer to produce various media resources including: The Bible – American Sign Language Version. He co-produced and directed Dr. Wonder’s Workshop – a television series for children which has been featured on several broadcasting networks. In 2017, he produced the feature film the Book of Job and in 2019 he produced and directed Uncondemned – a short film about the women caught in adultery.

Beginning in 2020, Joseph and the media team at Deaf Missions began work on a full-length feature film about the life of Jesus – all in American Sign Language. After years of research, writing, fundraising and filming, JESUS, a Deaf Missions film, was released in 2024 to over 320 theaters around the US.  As a producer and director of this film, Joseph has won several awards including the special “Overcomer” award at the International Christian Visual Media Crown awards.

His passion is creating high-quality creative films in sign language (“Deaf Cinema”) that engage the Deaf community to know more about Jesus!