Carol Ann Stowe was an innovative, one-of-a-kind leader of the Early Childhood Education program at Columbia for the past 16 years. Considered by her family to be a devoted mother and exceptional teacher, her colleagues refer to her as the “matriarch” of their tight-knit working community.

Stowe died Sunday, Oct. 4 at the age of 57. She is survived by her husband, who was her high school sweetheart, three daughters and two grandsons. Stowe is the founding director of the Harris Center for Early Childhood Education at Columbia in which she equipped teachers with the required tools and understanding to educate and connect with children in their urban settings. She was an active supporter and advocate for The Children’s Defense Fund, a nonprofit child-advocacy organization that focuses on the protection and well-being of children. Stowe’s family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the organization.

Stowe is remembered as someone who never forgot a birthday and always made her colleagues feel as if they were supported and equal within the small and intimate ECE program. She is described as having a charismatic personality and possessed a gift for bringing out the best in others, which was displayed in her love for what she did not only in her professional life,  but personal life as well.

“I’ve never worked with anyone like Carol Ann,” said Yolunda Kincade, Stowe’s assistant. “She treated us all equally the same, we all had a say in everything; there was no hierarchy. I don’t think I’ll ever find anybody like that.”

Notably dedicated to her students, Stowe felt the Reggio-Emilio approach, an art-infused method of teaching, and the college’s Early Childhood Education program were central to the mission of the school and tenaciously did everything she could do to fulfill her dreams for the program.

“Carol Ann was all about the students and helping them get through the program,” said Angela Fowler, interim director for the Early Childhood Education program. “She taught senior seminar series, and went to Italy every year with them, which was their capstone experience.”

Lisa Nicotra, a senior and one of Stowe’s students, remembers Stowe as the person whom the Early Childhood Education students turned to for guidance, and was always willing to help.

“Just last Thursday she gave us a really encouraging speech,” Nicotra said. “She said, ‘You’ll be able to do it, you can’t sit there and get anxious, you can do it.’ She always had kind and encouraging words when we needed it most. She was just amazing. I think it was all of our favorite classes, and it will be interesting to see where it will go, but I know a huge part of it will still be Carol Ann.”

Deborah Holdstein, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, remembers Stowe as a very strong and

giving colleague.

“It’s because of Carol Ann Stowe’s leadership style that her colleagues know what’s coming up and what needs to be done,” Holstein said. “It’s very rare to see this kind of coalescing, to see this belief in their leader. If we can make our Early Childhood Education program more known and more appreciated through our entire Columbia community, that would be a wonderful testimonial to Carol Ann’s work.”