Mrs. Straus is a longtime community volunteer and active fundraiser in San Antonio, Texas. She is former President of the Development Board at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In her honor, the university established the Jocelyn and Joe Straus Endowed Chair in Trauma Research, now held by Dr. Ronald Stewart.

Mrs. Straus serves on the boards of the Children's Fine Arts Series, Habitat for Humanity, Las Casas Foundation, National Council on the Arts, Raise your Hand Education Initiative, Riverwalk Live from the Landing, Texas Cultural Trust Council, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, UTSA McClendon Legislative Scholars Program, Voci de Sorelle, Women's Leadership Council of United Way of San Antonio, and the Council for Excellence in Woman's Health. She formerly served on the board of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

She attended Mills College in Oakland, California.