Dr. Joe Howell, President Emeritus of Central Methodist University, Dies Dr. Joe A. Howell, president emeritus of Central Methodist University, died Sept. 16, at the age of 78 in Nashville, Tenn. He was born on Oct. 27, 1930, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Dr. Howell retired in 1995 as the 24th president of Central Methodist after serving in that position – and as an ex-officio member of the Central Methodist Board of Trustees – for 18 years. In 1998 he went to the United Arab Emirates, where he was a member of the founding administration of Zayed University, a University for UAE national women. He received his B.S. from Southeast Missouri State and his M.A. and Ed. D. from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. During his career in higher education, Dr. Howell authored six books, numerous published articles, and was a state and national leader of several educational organizations and fraternities. His professional career included teaching and coaching at Herculaneum, Mo.; Auburndale, Fla.; Aruba N.A.; serving as dean of men at Frederick College in Portsmouth, Va., and Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va.; vice president for student affairs at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and the University of South Florida in Tampa. He also served as vice president for development his last two years at U.S.F. During his tenure as president, Dr. Howell was instrumental in establishing Central Methodist’s “2 Plus 2 Program” – a pioneer effort in Missouri higher education whereby a private college (Central Methodist) was able to partner with a public community college (Mineral Area College), enabling MAC students with associate’s degrees to complete a four-year degree from Central Methodist while remaining on their home campus. The first such program with MAC began in the fall of 1989. Over the next 20 years, Central Methodist expanded the program to include partnerships with three additional community colleges on five campuses, which are located in Poplar Bluff, Union, Sedalia, Clinton and Lake of the Ozarks. “The establishment of the first partnership between a four-year private and a two-year public college in Missouri may very well be the most strategic contribution of Dr. Howell’s presidency to Central’s ongoing growth and development,” said Dr. Marianne Inman, president of CMU. “In this state we are known as the pioneer in the public-private partnership model of higher education, and we are all deeply grateful for the vision and hard work that brought this concept to reality and that set us on the path that has led to Central’s current educational offerings in some 125 communities around Missouri.” In October of 1977, shortly after he became president of the University, Dr. Howell established Central Methodist University’s Hall of Sponsors Scholarship program that now provides endowed scholarships for more than 130 CMU students each academic year. He and his wife, Pan, continued to sponsor the Joe A. and Pan Howell Hall of Sponsors Scholarship established in their name in 1988 by Mrs. Helen Spiese to honor Dr. Howell’s service as the 24th president of Central Methodist College (now CMU). Dr. Howell is survived by his wife, Pan (Clippard) Howell; a daughter, Kim (Howell) Beible, and her two sons, Zak and Joe, raised with her late husband, Ron; a son, Kurt Howell, and his wife, Cindy, and their two children, Hayley and Hunter; a brother, Tim Howell, and his wife, Kath; and two grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Memorials to the Joe A. and Pan Howell Hall of Sponsors Scholarship may be sent to: Central Methodist University, 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, Mo 65248. 48
Fall 2009
The Magazine of Central Methodist University
The Talon