Enduring Impact: Remembering Dr. Joe Edward Rowe
Veterinarian, educator, mentor, and devoted family man Dr. Joe Edward Rowe passed away on July 18 at age 66. A respected faculty member in Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Rowe leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to his students, colleagues, and the veterinary profession.
College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Calvin Johnson described Rowe as an ideal tone-setter as an early point of contact for many Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students.
“Dr. Rowe was one of the first faculty member to academically engage students in the incoming class through the Summer Anatomy Workshop, an elective two-week intensive introduction to gross anatomy prior to the beginning of fall semester,” Johnson said. “His calm presence, practical wisdom, and quiet strength left a deep impression on everyone around him.”
Born and raised in Wetumpka, Alabama, Rowe graduated from Edgewood Academy in 1977 and pursued his love for animals and science at Auburn University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Animal and Dairy Science in 1982. He returned to Auburn to complete his DVM in 1987, launching a decades-long career that spanned private practice, teaching, and mentorship.
From 1987 to 1995, Rowe worked in mixed animal private practice before opening his own clinic — Kowaliga Road Animal Clinic in Eclectic, Alabama — which he operated until 2004. As much as he loved clinical work, education became his lasting vocation.
In 2012, Dr. Rowe joined the College of Veterinary Medicine as a lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology. For the next 13 years, he shaped the minds and hearts of hundreds of veterinary students.
“Dr. Rowe was a gifted and passionate anatomy teacher, bringing years of clinical experience and practical wisdom into the classroom,” said Dr. Robert Judd, head of the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology. “His heartfelt compassion for others had an invaluable impact on the lives of everybody he met.”
Rowe’s classroom was a place where students could grapple with complex material in a supportive environment. Among his many accolades were the Dean’s Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching (2016), the Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award (2018), and the Student American Veterinary Medicine Association (SAVMA) Teacher of the Year Award (2020). He also contributed to two internationally used veterinary anatomy textbooks.
But for Dr. Rowe, reward came from the success of his students rather than teaching awards. He frequently worked beyond normal teaching hours, spending late nights in the lab, holding study sessions over weekends and holidays, and writing pre-exam notes of encouragement to his students.
“Dr. Rowe devoted a lot of time to work with students who were struggling in anatomy after midterm exams,” said Dr. Mahmoud Mansour, professor of veterinary anatomy. “He sometimes worked until 7 p.m., despite the fact it could take him an hour to get back to his family in Eclectic. I’ll never forget the time he stayed after class to help a struggling student understand the brachial plexus, explaining it with such calm and patience that the student left with confidence and a smile. Moments like that truly captured who he was — kind, thoughtful, and generous with his time and heart.”
“He made it clear as soon as he joined us that his primary interest was to teach students,” said Dr. Benson Akingbemi, Alumni Professor of Anatomy and B.F. Hoerlein Endowed Faculty Research Professor. “There is no doubt that this is how he applied all of his knowledge and energy throughout his tenure at AUCVM. It is an understatement to say that we all appreciated Dr. Rowe’s impact on the two anatomy courses. Indeed, his devotion to students’ learning was a major contributing factor to the success that we have had with the teaching of anatomy over several years.”
Rowe’s knowledge was also beneficial to his fellow faculty members. Veterinary Anatomy Professor Dr. Satya Pondugula described him as “a teacher to me.”
“His vast clinical experience brought a wealth of real-world insight to our anatomy teaching,” Pondugula said. “I learned a great deal from Dr. Rowe both professionally and personally.”
Anatomy Lab Coordinator Dr. Ray Wilhite, a longtime colleague, said he will miss the experience of working with Rowe to select lab questions for each gross anatomy lab exam. The two held those pre-exam meetings for 12 years. Wilhite said Auburn’s CVM students will continue to benefit from Rowe’s work in a variety of ways, including dissected specimens used in labs, digital radiograph PowerPoints and narrated anatomy videos.
In addition to his contributions to veterinary education, Dr. Rowe was an active member of the Christian Veterinary Fellowship, where he helped organize the annual “Pet Pictures with Santa” fundraiser, merging his love for animals, community, and faith.
Rowe was preceded in death by his father, Edward Hugh Rowe; mother, Patricia Lett Rowe; and brother, Craig Hugh Rowe. He is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Deborah Taylor Rowe; his son, Edward Taylor Rowe; his daughter, Maggie Frances Rowe; and his grandchildren, Jackson Taylor Rowe and Alaina Madelyn Rowe.
In honor of his enduring impact on students and the veterinary field, the family asks that donations be made to the Dr. Joe Rowe Scholarship Fund at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://auburngiving.org/RoweMemorial.