Jo Anne Trow Oral History Interview

A Midwest native from Ohio, Jo Anne Trow has spent her life providing services to female students. Originally pursuing social work, Jo Anne was active early on with Residence Hall in her undergraduate college of Denison University, her graduate studies at Indiana University, and in program development at Michigan State during her doctorate program. Prior to her doctorate, Jo Anne spent four years at Washington State University, a position that later led her to OSU. In 1965 the new Dean of Students, a former director at Washington State, extended an offer to Jo Anne to become the Assistant Dean of Women, and a year later she became the Dean of Women under the Dean of Student Affairs. As departments re-organized, the president transitioned into a vice presidential structure and in 1984 Jo Anne became the vice president of Student Affairs until her retirement in 1995.

Jo Anne Trow defines her career by her serves to women’s issues in higher education. She worked continuously to restructure school policy and practices to elevate women into positions of leadership. Her beginning years at OSU were impacted by the passing of Title IX, which Jo Anne says did more than help women athletics. It affected all areas of the college structure and administration. One of her accomplishments was to highlight the disparity of privileges and opportunities for female students, faculty and staff. She asked to complete a research study and present her findings, which made obvious a conclusion that women need more equivalent and advancement opportunities. She helped develop new standards of student conduct and practices by involving female students in the discussions. She also connected with students as faculty adviser to the women’s honors society Alpha Lambda Delta.

Jo Anne continues to call Corvallis her home because it “is a nice place to live!” Into retirement, after she finished with her last round of doctorate students, she was appointed as a committee member for Parks and Rec for 8 years. She continues to work with the OSU Folk Club and Thrift Shop and the Benton County Historical Society.