At Pitt State, Dean of Students Jon Bartlow has built a career centered on one thing: People.
Bartlow’s connections to Pitt State began even before his time as a student. Raised in Raytown, Missouri, he grew up in a family of educators. Both his parents were Pitt State graduates and began their teaching careers in Raytown, making the university part of his story from the beginning.
“Pittsburg was a very special place to me from a very young age,” Bartlow said. “I knew I wanted to attend PSU from the time I was very young. I never even considered another university.”
With frequent visits to see extended family, that connection only grew stronger. “Pitt State and Pittsburg felt like home from a very early age – probably elementary school,” he said.
Little did he know that this sense of home would later shape both his personal life and career.
When Bartlow officially arrived at campus in 1994, he didn’t have a clear plan for his future or career. While he originally pursued biology, then considered music, he ultimately decided on communications with a minor in music.
During his time as a gorilla, he found his community through involvement and mentorship. Professors like Dr. Susan Marchant, Bob Kehle, Rusty Jones and others left a lasting impression. “All people who had an impact on my life and acted as excellent teachers, friends and mentors,” he said. “It’s an honor to still call them friends.”
His time at PSU also led to an unexpected chapter in his personal life: Meeting his wife.
“I truly was not looking and in fact, was pretty tired of the Pittsburg dating scene,” he said. “I was ready to get out and start my life elsewhere with no strings attached… and then we met.”
Just two months later, Bartlow moved to Minnesota for a position at Carleton College. Despite the distance, the relationship continued to progress, and after six months, he popped the question. “It was very unexpected for both of us. It just felt ‘right’ and we took a leap of faith that things would work out if they were supposed to. I am sure thankful they did… she is my greatest blessing, friend and partner.”
They married just a year and a day after their first date, and have been happily married since, celebrating 23 years this summer.
Although his path to higher education wasn’t always clear, Bartlow said his motivation has remained consistent. “From a young age, I have always cared about people. I have always wanted to help people find happiness,” he said. “I was a natural mediator and someone who often wanted to ‘fix’ everyone else’s problems – sometimes to a fault.”
That perspective now shapes how he approaches his role as Dean of Students, where he works closely with students, navigating both challenges and successes. His leadership is rooted in empathy, influenced by his own experiences.
“I have had my share of struggles as a teen and young adult,” he said. “I have battled depression and anxiety. I have seen how addiction can destroy the lives of loved ones and cause great sadness.”
Bartlow describes his job as both demanding and rewarding. “It’s a rollercoaster. Sometimes this job is the hardest job I have ever had,” he said. “It brings with it some of the most amazing moments of celebration and some of the most difficult challenges and sadness I have ever faced in a job.”
Outside of his career, Bartlow stays grounded through his family community involvement, and personal interests. “I can be having the worst day, and I know walking into my house and seeing them is going to make everything better,” he said, referring to his wife and their son.
Bartlow’s involvement doesn’t stop on campus. He volunteers consistently and has been involved with Rotary for 15 years. His passion for music didn’t stop after graduation. He continues to pursue music, playing saxophone and performing with local bands. “Playing music and performing for people who enjoy what you’re doing is the best medicine I have ever found,” he said.
Looking back, Bartlow says the life he’s built is more than anything he could have ever imagined. “If you would have told 20-year-old me what kind of life nearly 50-year-old me would be living: The wonderful people in my life, colleagues and friends – I don’t know that I would have believed it,” he said. “I am thankful beyond measure for the life I am able to live today.”
When he thinks about what he hopes to leave behind, his focus continues to remain on the same thing that guided him all along, people. “When my career is over, I hope people say that I made people’s lives better, that I cared deeply, that I lived each day with enthusiasm and passion, and that I made them smile.”