F. DuBois Bowman will be inaugurated today as the 13th president of Morehouse College during the HBCU’s 159th Founder’s Week.
Bowman, a 1992 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the esteemed men’s college, took the helm last July. He’s served on advisory boards and led mentorship programs at both Morehouse and Spelman College. In 2019, he received the college’s Bennie Trailblazer Award, named after one of his predecessors, Benjamin E. Mays. Along with his wife, Spelman alum Cynthia Bowman, he’s also the parent of a 2024 Morehouse graduate and a current sophomore.
Prior to accepting the new role, Bowman served as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and held leadership roles at Columbia University and Emory University.
In an interview with Capital B Atlanta last year discussing his first 100 days in office, Bowman shared some of his plans for the college, which include new dorms, a new student center, more mental health resources, and a focus on campus safety.
He also acknowledged the challenges ahead given the Trump administration’s targeting of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
“For the first time in my life, what I see playing out doesn’t look like progress for those who are underrepresented and have had various opportunities in the past,” Bowman said. “But it’s not new. So afraid? No. Is there a need to understand the moment, to respond to the moment, to ensure that we are still a vital pipeline to cultivating talent that is sorely needed for the betterment of society? Morehouse will continue to do that without question.”
Bowman also shared his thoughts on legacy.
“I have been asked the question, “What do I want my legacy to be?” How I think about that and how I respond to that reflects my approach to leadership. I view leadership at its core as a service. In this case, as a service to the institution, as a service to our students — our current students and our future students and their families. As a service to society, I think about how I can use Morehouse as a vehicle to contribute in a positive way to society.”
In addition to Thursday’s inauguration there are a host of events during Founder’s Week:
Friday Feb. 13
Inaugural Symposium
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Ray Charles Performing Arts Center
Saturday Feb 14
The 38th annual “A Candle in the Dark” Scholarship Gala & Inaugural Ball
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Sunday Feb. 15
Morehouse College Glee Club Annual Concert: Celebrating 115 Years of Masterful Musicianship
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Additional reporting by Noah Cathey.
