JoAnne Lofton, the former professor and assistant dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of Nebraska=Omaha, died on August 8. She was 84 years old.
A native of Forsyth, Georgia, Lofton’s grandfather was the founder of what is now Grambling State University in Louisiana. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and her master’s degree in foods and nutrition/biochemistry from Tuskegee University in Alabama.
Lofton began working for the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1971. During her career, she served as interim chair of the department of gerontology and was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal in 1999. As an administrator, Lofton worked on the recruitment and retention of students. She helped develop a partnership with Grambling State University which resulted in the recruitment of African”American students to graduate programs at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Lofton retired as assistant dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service in 2003 after 30 years of service to the university.