Rose (Jan) Wilson, Ph.D.: 1946-2022
07/13/2022
Rose (Jan) Wilson, associate professor emerita in the School of Social Work, died Saturday, June 18, 2022. She was 75.
Wilson was born Sept. 7, 1946, in Detroit. She earned her bachelor’s degree (1969) and master’s degree (1971) from Wayne State University. She earned her doctorate in 2006 from Saint Louis University.
She began her career as a social worker. She spent 25 years in professional practice in the areas of mental health, child abuse and neglect, school social work, residential treatment for youth, disability services, and family support.
In 1996, she joined the faculty of Saint Louis University. For the next 18 years, she oversaw the practicum program for graduate students and taught graduate classes focusing on school social work. At SLU she was an associate clinical professor, field education liaison, and the family and applied behavior analysis concentrations coordinator in the School of Social Work.
Former dean of the School of Social Work and emeritus professor Sue Tebb, Ph.D., said Wilson’s greatest strength was her “ability to develop a sensitive and immediate rapport with students” in a letter of reference.
“Jan really listens to students and believes she can learn something from them, and they know this is a genuine feeling on her part. Practitioners in the community appreciate her leadership and also her ability to be an honest, direct team player,” Tebb said.
While at Saint Louis University as a Clinical Faculty member, Wilson developed the School Social Work Specialization for both current MSW students and MSW graduates who want to return and obtain the skills to work in a school setting.
She published numerous articles and was a member of multiple professional social work organizations. At SLU she served as the faculty representative on the Board of Trustees Human Resources Committee, the University Libraries Committee, Faculty Senate, and President’s Diversity Council.
She also did community service with several groups including YWCA St. Louis Sexual Assault Center, Grace Hill Head Start, and St. Louis City Division of Family Services.
Wilson retired and moved to Pittsboro, NC in 2014. She is survived by her daughter Leah Wilson, husband Nick Trotta, of Durham, NC; her son Seth Wilson, wife Jennifer Neal, of Nolensville, TN; her three grandchildren, Adeline Trotta and Elliott Trotta of Durham, NC, and Madeleine Neal-Wilson of Nolensville, TN; and her brother Philip Goodman of North Port, FL.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m. at the Judea Reform Congregation Cemetery. Rabbi Matt Soffer will officiate. The graveside service can be streamed on YouTube.
Following the graveside service on Sunday, July 24, at 11:30 a.m. the family is hosting a memorial service at the Fearrington House located at 2000 Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC. The memorial service can be streamed on YouTube.