Morehouse College has selected one of its own to grab the baton as the school’s next president.
Public health leader and biostatistician F. DuBois Bowman — who graduated from the institution in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics — will join the school as its 13th president at a time of great upheaval in higher education.
President Donald Trump has expressed a commitment to supporting HBCUs financially. But he has clashed publicly with schools like Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. Trump has suspended or canceled some of their federal funding, while alleging that they allow antisemitism on their campuses or promote what he has called unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The clashes have sown fear on college campuses nationwide, including among HBCUs, whose communities wonder whether their schools will become a target.
Bowman will start on July 15, Morehouse announced on Tuesday. He will succeed David A. Thomas, whose tenure ends in June following his resignation announcement last year.
“Dr. Bowman’s record of visionary leadership, his deep commitment to academic excellence, and his lifelong dedication to Morehouse make him the ideal choice to lead the College into its next era,” said Willie Woods, chairman of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees, in a statement. “He brings an extraordinary blend of intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership.”
During Thomas’s tenure, he will be responsible for carrying out Morehouse’s strategic plan, which calls, in part, for increasing the college’s grant funding and developing partnerships with corporations, foundations, community entities, and other educational institutions.
On social media, followers and supporters of the Morehouse community expressed their support for Bowman.
“Super happy with Morehouse’s pick for president,” wrote X user @kevcoke6. “Not only is he a Morehouse man himself, he seems fit for the job.”
“I pray the Board of Trustees gives him space to work,” added X user @bullwinqle2.
Bowman has served as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health since 2018. A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society, he maintained his connection to his alma mater through the facilitation of a University of Michigan pipeline program for Morehouse and Spelman College students. Morehouse awarded Bowman in 2019 with the Bennie Trailblazer Award, the school’s highest alumni award, named for its sixth president, Benjamin Elijah Mays.
Bowman’s research has “transformed understanding of neurological and mental health disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and schizophrenia,” according to the statement.
“Returning to Morehouse as its 13th president is the honor of a lifetime,” Bowman said. “This institution shaped who I am — instilling a commitment to excellence, justice, and impact. I am excited to partner with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters to build on our legacy and write the next chapter of Morehouse’s transformative story.”
Bowman previously held academic and leadership positions at Columbia University and Emory University. He earned a master’s degree in biostatistics from the University of Michigan and a doctorate in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Bowman’s wife, Cynthia, is a Spelman alumna. Their youngest son is currently enrolled at Morehouse, while another graduated from the school in 2024.
