Joe Gow (born 11 October 1960, Age: 63 years old) is an American educator and academic administrator who served as the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L) from 2007 to 2021. He is known for his leadership in enhancing the quality and diversity of the university, expanding its academic programs and facilities, and promoting its community engagement and outreach.
He is also an avid traveler and a YouTube personality who shares his adventures with his wife, Carmen Wilson, on their channel @SexyHappyCouple.
Early Life and Family
Joe Gow was born on October 11, 1960, in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, to Arthur S. Gow and Marcelyn Durnin Gow. He has two siblings: Arthur S. Gow, III, and Marianne Bowman.
He also has a half-sister, Marcelyn Gow, from his mother’s second marriage. He grew up in a rural area and attended Palmerton Area High School, where he graduated in 1978.
Joe Gow Wiki/Bio
| Name | Joe Gow |
| Age | 63 years old |
| Birth Date | October 11, 1960 |
| Birth Place | Palmerton, Pennsylvania, America |
| Lives in | La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States |
| Worked As | Chancellor – UW-La Crosse |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac | Libra |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Wife | Carmen Wilson |
| Ex-wife | Betsy Valentine |
| College | Penn State |
| University | University of Alabama |
| Harvard University Graduate School of Education | |
| Father | Arthur S. Gow |
| Mother | Marcelyn Durnin Gow |
| Siblings | Arthur S. Gow, III |
| Marianne Bowman | |
| Marcelyn Gow | |
| Social Media Links | Wikipedia: Joe_Gow Youtube: @SexyHappyCouple LinkedIn: joe-gow-364bb62a |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Education
He then enrolled at Penn State University, where he majored in journalism and minored in political science. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1982. He continued his education at the University of Alabama, where he earned a master’s degree in communication studies in 1984.
He then pursued a doctoral degree in communication at the same university, which he completed in 1988. His dissertation focused on the rhetoric of the American Civil War.
He also attended Harvard University Graduate School of Education, where he completed a management development program in 2000.
Physical Stats
| Height | In feet: 5’ 11″ |
| Weight | 75 kilograms (approx.) |
| Eyes | Green |
| Hair | Salt & Pepper |
Career and Achievements
Joe Gow began his academic career as an assistant professor of communication at Texas A&M University in 1988. He taught courses on public speaking, persuasion, and media criticism. He also served as the director of the public speaking program and the associate director of the speech communication center. He was promoted to associate professor in 1994 and to full professor in 2000. He also received several awards for his teaching excellence, including the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching in 1999.
In 2001, he moved to California State University, Northridge, where he became the dean of the College of Arts, Media, and Communication. He oversaw the academic and administrative affairs of the college, which included six departments and several centers and institutes. He also led the development of new academic programs, such as the bachelor’s degree in music industry studies and the master’s degree in mass communication. He also initiated several fundraising and outreach efforts, such as the creation of the Arts Council and the Media Arts Festival.
In 2007, he was appointed as the chancellor of UW-L, the second-largest campus in the University of Wisconsin System. He was the ninth chancellor in the university’s history and the first to be hired through a national search. He assumed his duties on August 1, 2007.
As the chancellor, he was responsible for the overall vision, mission, and strategic direction of the university, which had about 10,000 students, 1,000 faculty and staff, and a budget of over $200 million. He also represented the university to various external constituencies, such as the Board of Regents, the state legislature, the governor, the media, and the public.
Rise to Fame
He was widely praised for his leadership in improving the academic quality and reputation of UW-L, which was ranked among the top regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. He also increased the diversity and inclusivity of the campus community, which was recognized by the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity magazine.
He also expanded the academic offerings and facilities of the university, such as the establishment of the School of Education, the renovation of the Student Union, and the construction of the Science Labs Building. He also fostered the community engagement and outreach of the university, such as the creation of the Self-Sufficiency Program, the partnership with the La Crosse Promise, and the hosting of the Freedom Honor Flight.
He also faced some challenges and controversies during his tenure, such as the budget cuts and tuition freezes imposed by the state government, the enrollment decline and retention issues, and the criticism over his decision to invite controversial speakers, such as porn star Nina Hartley and conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, to the campus.
He announced his retirement in November 2020, effective June 30, 2021. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests. He was succeeded by Kelly Novak, who became the interim chancellor on July 1, 2021.
He received several honors and awards for his service and achievements, such as the Distinguished Alumni Award from Penn State University in 2010, the Chancellor’s Medallion from UW-L in 2021, and the honorary doctorate from Viterbo University in 2021.
First Wife & Affairs
Joe Gow married Betsy Valentine, a fellow communication professor, in 1986. They had two children: Joseph and Elizabeth. They divorced in 2008.
Marriage with Carmen Wilson
He married Carmen Wilson, a sociology professor and the former provost of UW-L, in 2012. They have no children together, but they have four grandchildren from their previous marriages. They live in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and enjoy traveling around the world. They document their trips and share their tips and insights on their YouTube channel @SexyHappyCouple, which has over 10,000 subscribers and 2 million views.
Some of their destinations include China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Egypt, Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica.
Net Worth
Gow’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million, according to various sources. He earned most of his wealth from his salary as a chancellor, which was $214,500 in 2020, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
Controversy
Joe Gow, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, was fired on December 28, 2023, for producing and appearing in pornographic videos with his wife, Carmen Wilson, a former professor at the same university.
The videos, which featured the couple engaging in various sexual acts while promoting a vegan lifestyle, were posted on a website called Cooking with Carmen, which also offered recipes and tips for plant-based cooking.
