Joan B. Townsend was born in Dallas, Texas on July 9, 1933. She obtained an Associate in Arts degree (A.A.) from Christian College (now Columbia College) in 1952. In 1959, she received a Bachelor of Arts, followed by her Ph.D in 1965, both in Anthropology from University of California, Los Angeles.

Townsend taught briefly at East Los Angeles College from 1962 to 1963, followed by stints at Los Angeles State College in 1963 and southern Illinois University between 1963 to 1964. She began her career at the University of Manitoba in 1964. In 1981, she attained the rank of Professor. She is recognized as a founding member of the Department of Anthropology and as one of the initial creators of its graduate program.

Townsend was actively involved in field research beginning in 1958-1960 with the recording and excavation of various archaeological sites in Utah and southern California. From 1960-1982, she conducted numerous archaeological surveys and excavations in the Iliamna Lake region of Alaska, and studied Tanaina Athapaskans and Aglegmiut Yupik in the area.

Overall, Townsend's research encompassed three unique areas of anthropology: historic and prehistoric archaeology, ethnohistory, and religion, most notably traditional and neo-shamanism and new religious movements. She published numerous papers and articles in these areas and in 1970, produced the book Kijik: An Historic Settlement.

Townsend served on numerous department, faculty and university committees, including the University of Manitoba Board of Governors. For nineteen years, she also served as a member of Senate for the Faculty of Arts. In 1999, Townsend retired from the University of Manitoba and was named Professor Emeritus in recognition of her accomplishments in anthropological research and teaching. Upon retiring, Townsend continued to conduct research on Shamanism among traditional practitioners in Nepal, as well as ethno-medicine and non-allopathic healing.

Joan Townsend died in Winnipeg on 23 May, 2006.