Joellen Snow establishes Experiential Learning scholarship to support first-generation college students

March 12, 2026 - Emily Jodway Patyna

Joellen Snow, a 1975 graduate of Michigan State, recently partnered with the University to establish the Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund, an award created to support first-generation college students in experiential learning and study away opportunities. 

Snow graduated from Michigan State with a degree in political science and subsequently received a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1978 and a Master of Public Affairs in 1979 from the University of Texas. She began her career as an attorney in Houston, Texas in 1979, and was soon appointed by the Mayor of Houston as an Associate Municipal Court Judge in 1982, serving in that position for 40 years.

Snow is passionate about supporting Spartans in their experiential learning endeavors; her own undergraduate experiences working with the Michigan House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and two different members of the US House of Representatives from Michigan greatly influenced her decision to pursue a career in law. 

“I really started to envision my career when I was at Michigan State,” said Snow. “I feel like I had great opportunities there in addition to great professors and courses. I ended up with a really well rounded experience that wasn't just in the classroom. It’s so important for students to have real-world experience before they graduate from college.”

Based in Houston, Snow continues to practice law, specializing in the areas of estate planning and probate, and is active in several charitable organizations, including Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance and the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. She is also an avid traveler. Joellen was married to George Stanley O’Neal for 38 years until his passing in 2021. She is the mother of Megan and Ellen, who sadly died of brain cancer at age 7 in 2001, and is the grandmother of Liam and Harrison. 

Snow is an avid supporter of the MSU Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI), a collaborative effort between MSU alumni, professional women, and students, designed to support and empower students with leadership aspirations. As a woman who often had to forge her own path in an often male-dominated field, she wishes that a group like the WLI existed when she was a student. 

“I really felt like the women in the Women's Leadership Institute are a lot like me when I was in college. They have the same enthusiasm, excitement, optimism, they seem to have super bright futures. It's a wonderful program, and so I'm happy to support it and happy to have that connection and reason to be back on campus.”

Snow has also given back to Michigan State through several mentorship endeavors. She has served as a mentor to undergraduate students in the Social Science Scholars Program led by Dr. John Waller. She enjoys being able to share with students her career and life experiences and the lessons she has learned along the way.

“It really seems like all the students in both the Scholars Program and the WLI are super bright, super motivated, interesting, exciting,” she said. “It's just been a real pleasure to meet some of them and get to know them. It all seems right at this point in my life, in my career, that I should be able to give back to a university that meant so much to me.”

The scholarship will be open for applications beginning next spring. Full criteria for the award can be found below:

Undergraduate students enrolled at MSU who have demonstrated financial need, are first generation college students, and are in good academic standing will be eligible for this award. Funds will be used for experiential learning opportunities, including but not limited to study away/abroad, conference attendance, or internships related to their area of study. Preference will be given to students participating in the Women’s Leadership Institute (“WLI”) cohort and/or the Social Science Scholar cohort who are engaged in WLI activities.