By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | May 17, 2025

Morehouse College has chosen Dr. F. DuBois Bowman as its next president. He will become the 13th president of the college on July 15, 2025. Dr. Bowman is a 1992 graduate of Morehouse and currently serves as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

The decision comes after a national search to replace outgoing president Dr. David A. Thomas, who will step down in June.

Dr. Bowman is widely known for his work in public health and biostatistics. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a fellow of the American Statistical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Willie Woods, chairman of the Morehouse Board of Trustees, praised Dr. Bowman’s leadership and deep connection to the college.

“Dr. Bowman’s record of visionary leadership, his deep commitment to academic excellence, and his lifelong dedication to Morehouse make him the ideal choice,” said Woods.

Dr. Bowman’s research has helped improve understanding of diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and schizophrenia. He has also studied how the environment can affect brain development in young people. His work has led to more personalized treatments and helped shape national public health strategies.

He oversees over 1,300 students and $100 million in research funding at the University of Michigan. He has led programs on gun violence, health equity, and pandemic response. He is also known for building a strong, inclusive, forward-thinking academic culture.

Returning to Morehouse is deeply personal for Dr. Bowman. He is a two-time Morehouse parent and has long mentored Morehouse and Spelman College students. In 2019, he received Morehouse’s highest alumni award, the Bennie Trailblazer Award.

“Returning to Morehouse as its 13th president is the honor of a lifetime,” said Dr. Bowman. “This institution shaped who I am—instilling a commitment to excellence, justice, and impact.”

His appointment comes at a key moment for Morehouse. The college was recently named a Research College & University (RCU) and an Opportunity College & University (OCU) in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. These honors recognize Morehouse’s growing role in research and its strong support for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Before leading Michigan’s public health school, Dr. Bowman held roles at Columbia University and Emory University. He earned his master’s in biostatistics from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Bowman is married to Cynthia Bowman, a Spelman College, Georgia Tech, and Northwestern University graduate. They have four children, including two sons who attend or recently graduated from Morehouse.

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