Longtime CSM Education Professor Passes
A longtime College of Saint Mary education professor will be remembered for her passion for helping generations of students become successful teachers.
Dr. Joanne Carlson died April 23 in Seward. She was 90.
Joanne began teaching at CSM after receiving her master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska Omaha. She taught for 10 years before earning her doctoral degree. She continued working part-time at CSM while working full-time for the Meyer Rehabilitation Institute from 1975 until 1987. In 1989, Joanne was named the director of the CSM education department, a position she held until her retirement in 2002.
Joanne was awarded the Inspiring Excellence Award during the 1998-99 school year.
“She has many education graduates who would talk so highly of her and remember her with great fondness for what she did to help them be great educators,” said Diane Proulx, former assistant vice president of alumnae and donor relations.
In 1992, Joanne helped start Operation S.M.A.R.T., a partnership between Girls, Inc. and CSM that encouraged girls and young women to be strong, smart and bold, make career choices, and develop leadership skills that have traditionally not been open to them.
Joanne and her husband, Vaughn, started an endowed scholarship at CSM to honor her daughter, Melanie, who passed away.
A visitation will be from 1-7:30 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, May 4, at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home in Seward. A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, at Seward United Methodist Church, 1400 N. 5th St., Seward.
