Month: August 2026

Alissa Savage writes:
Last month my mentor, Dr. Joe Koke, passed away. A brilliant microscopist and cell biologist, who taught at Texas State University for over 40 years. I first met him when I took Cytology and Microtechniques during my undergraduate degree, it had a challenging lab component in which you had to fully prepare samples, view them on multiple different microscopes, all within a short period of time (something I knew nothing about at the time). His love for microscopy was contagious, his smile genuine, and he ignited my passion for microscopes. Upon graduating I got my first post-degree job with Dr. Dana Garcia/Dr. Joe Koke. This position “grew” over the years and I’m so very grateful for the experiences I had. 

Dr. Koke started the Integrated Microscopy Facility at Texas State University, which eventually grew into the Analysis Research Service Center (part of the SRO, which is now the CRO). Learning how to take a sample and process it fully to view on a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) – including fixation, embedding, sectioning, immunohistochemistry, viewing the sample, taking micrographs, and then developing our own film – was invaluable. And a rare skill set. We celebrated our scientific successes and he was there through the failures. 

The IMF/ARSC was a job that I loved, and I would not be the person I am today without the guidance, support, and wisdom of Dr. Dana Garcia and Dr. Joe Koke. I am forever grateful.

Thanks to Dr. Dana Garcia and Alissa Savage for these photos

July 16 | Passages – Published in July 2026 College of Science and Engineering – News and Headlines

Dr. Joe Koke, a long-time professor in the department, passed away on July 16th. Joe began his career at the university in 1978, and retired in 2020. Joe received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Oregon in 1966 and 1968. He then went on to the University of Alberta where he earned a doctorate in 1971. While at Texas State, Joe developed a research program in Cell Biology and Microscopy. He was one of the first faculty members to successfully obtain federal funding for his research. Over the years, he also mentored many graduate students as well as junior-level faculty members. Joe played a large role in initiating the department’s and one of the university’s first Ph.D. programs. He also had various leadership roles and served on committees that increased the research capacity of the university as well as its teaching mission. Joe will be missed by family, friends, colleagues, and students.