Jacksonville University is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Joan S. Carver, who died this week in Jacksonville at 94. One of the university’s most revered figures, Dr. Carver was a distinguished educator, administrator, and community leader whose contributions to our institution spanned almost 40 years.
Dr. Carver joined Jacksonville University in 1963 as an Instructor in Government and
steadily advanced through the academic ranks, becoming a full-time professor in 1975.
She served as Director of the Taft Seminars in Practical Politics from 1968 to 1978,
chaired the Division of Social Sciences, and 
led the University's successful reaccreditation self-study in 1983. Her leadership
culminated in her appointment as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, a role she
held for 17 years. During her tenure as Dean, she chaired numerous committees including
the college’s assessment committee and the Dean's Council. She concluded her JU career
serving as interim Vice President of Academic Affairs from 2000-2001.
“We have lost one of the most remarkable figures in Jacksonville University's history," said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost. "A servant leader at our institution for nearly four decades, from instructor to dean to interim vice president, she demonstrated her deep dedication to education and her students. The recognition she received throughout her career, including being our first Woman of the Year, is a testament to her profound impact. Our entire University community extends our deepest condolences to her family during this difficult time.”
In addition to being the inaugural recipient of the JU Woman of the Year Award in 2000, Dr. Carver's excellence was recognized with the JU Professor of the Year Award in 1972 and the prestigious EVE Award in Education from the Florida Times-Union in 1982. In 2020, Joan was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her 60-year career as professor, researcher, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Jacksonville University; for her membership in professional associations; and for her extensive and ongoing service to the Jacksonville community. Her colleagues and students revered her for her thoughtful approach, keen intellect, and exceptional abilities as both instructor and administrator.
“Joan Carver represented the finest qualities of higher education leadership," said Dr. Sherri Jackson, Interim Provost & Senior Vice President at Jacksonville University. "She was a strong advocate for faculty and her commitment to academic rigor, student success, and institutional advancement set a standard that remains part of her lasting legacy. Her memory lives on in the Joan S. Carver Study Room and in the countless lives she touched throughout her remarkable career at JU.”
