A former Professor of Science Education at Syracuse University School of Education, Ann Clark Howe passed peacefully at her home in Raleigh, NC, on Aug. 14, 2024. She was 99.
Howe was born in Richmond, VA, on Oct. 18, 1924, to the late William Baker Clark and Louise Graham Clark. She grew up on the family farm in Buckingham County, VA, before entering Westhampton College, University of Richmond, at age 16, from which she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
Howe later earned a master’s degree in organic chemistry at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She met her husband, Charles Howe, at UNC after he returned from service in World War II. They married in 1947.
Before taking a break from her career to raise her family, Howe was an instructor in chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and a research assistant at UNC. Later, she was an elementary science teacher at the Lab School at the University of Chicago while her husband was a seminary student. She then received a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970.
After receiving her doctorate, Howe was a Professor of Science Education at Syracuse University, the head of the Department of Math and Science Education at North Carolina State University, and the head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Maryland. She was the first woman to hold a faculty position in her department at both Syracuse and NC State.
Howe’s professional accomplishments include serving as President of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (1983-1984), as a Senior Fulbright Scholar (Chile), and as editor for professional journals. She also authored numerous journal articles and two books. In retirement, she became a painter and a member of Cary Gallery of Artists and was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, serving in various leadership roles.
Predeceased by her husband, Charles, and her brother, William B. Clark Jr., among family who survive Howe are her daughter Judith L. Howe G’74 (M.A. Sociology), G’76 (M.P.A. Public Administration) of Yonkers NY; daughter Marjorie H. Chenery G’76 (M.S.W. Social Work) of Raleigh; and son David Howe of Albany NY.