Jo Ann Emerson

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Jo Ann Emerson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 8th district
In office November 5, 1996 – January 22, 2013
Preceded by	Bill Emerson
Succeeded by	Jason Smith
Personal details
Born	Jo Ann Hermann (1950-09-16) September 16, 1950 (age 74) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Republican (until 1996; 1997–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (November 1996 – January 1997)
Spouses	Bill Emerson ​ ​ (m. 1975; died 1996)​ Ron Gladney ​ (m. 2000)​
Parent	Al Hermann (father)
Education	Ohio Wesleyan University (BA)

Jo Ann Emerson (née Hermann; born September 16, 1950) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for Missouri's 8th congressional district from 1996 to 2013. The district consists of Southeast and South Central Missouri and includes the Bootheel, the Lead Belt and the Ozarks. Emerson is a member of the Republican Party. On January 22, 2013, Emerson resigned her seat in Congress to become the president and chief executive officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. She served as CEO until August 2015.

With the defeat of Congressman Ike Skelton, Emerson became the dean of Missouri's congressional delegation in 2011.