Joe Gow

Joseph Durnin Gow (born 1960) is an American academic who served as president of Nebraska Wesleyan University from 2006 to 2007, and then as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse from 2007 until his termination from the position in December 2023, when it was discovered that he and his wife had publicly produced pornographic films.

Early life, education, and musical endeavors Born in Newark, New York, Before pursuing his advanced degrees, he spent two years as the guitarist and frontman of a rock band called Johnny Deadline, which released an EP titled Whatever Happened to Rock & Roll in 1982. While at Alfred, Gow, then director of the communications studies program, published a 1993 study on the influence of MTV, concluding that male performers were substantially over-represented, despite the "revolutionary" status of the enterprise, writing that MTV "finds itself in the incongruous position of presenting videos that reinforce very traditional gender definitions".

Academic administration In 2001, Gow became dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, and in February 2004, Gow was hired as dean of liberal arts at Nebraska Wesleyan University. In 2006, Gow was promoted to serve as interim president of Nebraska Wesleyan for one year, insisting on a salary tens of thousands of dollars lower than the salary that was offered. Described as "a student and faculty favorite", his salary decision presented a stark contrast with that of his predecessor, who had secured a $750,000 retirement package when leaving the position. Shortly after taking over as chancellor, he performed for students at a battle of the bands at the Cartwright Center's "Cellar" restaurant. In 2018, Gow courted controversy when he brought pornographic actress Nina Hartley to the campus to speak as part of a campus "Free Speech Week", paying her $5,000 out of university funds for her appearance. Gow was reprimanded for this event, According to Gow, he did not use University of Wisconsin resources in the production of the videos or mention his connection to the college.

In April 2024, in addition to firing him as chancellor, the university administration sought to remove him from his position as a tenured professor. In July 2024, a committee of peer-tenured faculty had voted to recommend that he be removed from his faculty position. In September 2024, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted 17–0 to fire him from his tenured faculty job over making pornography. In response, Gow noted that "the regents claim to want to protect and promote free expression, but their action today shows this isn't true", describing them as "a Board of Hypocrites". The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called the termination "a major blow to academic freedom and faculty free speech rights." In early 2025, Gow filed suit against the Universities of Wisconsin seeking reinstatement to his tenured faculty position. He also disputed the university's allegation that he refused to cooperate with its investigation, asserting that he had merely sought legal counsel before participating. In early 2026, Gow and his wife won an XMA Award for best sex scene in a featurette. the university litigation remained pending.