Dr. F. DuBois Bowman takes over as Morehouse College’s 13th President

Nationally acclaimed public health leader and 1992 Morehouse alumnus begins new chapter at the helm of historic institution

The Morehouse College Board of Trustees welcomes Dr. F. DuBois Bowman—a nationally recognized public health leader, biostatistician, and 1992 Morehouse graduate—as the College’s 13th president, following a national search. Dr. Bowman officially assumed the role on July 15, 2025, succeeding President David A. Thomas, who concluded his tenure in June.

For over 150 years, Morehouse College has produced a distinguished roster of alumni—including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, Maynard Jackson, and many others. Now, that legacy comes full circle with the appointment of one of its own, Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, as the institution’s 13th president.

“Dr. Bowman’s record of visionary leadership, his deep commitment to academic excellence, and his lifelong dedication to Morehouse made him the ideal choice to lead the College into its next era,” said Willie Woods ’85, Chairman of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. “He brought an extraordinary blend of intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership.”

Dr. Bowman most recently served as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where he held the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professorship of Biostatistics. A respected leader and scholar, he is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a Fellow of the American Statistical Association, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A specialist in the statistical analysis of complex neurological data, Dr. Bowman’s research has advanced understanding and treatment of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and schizophrenia. At Michigan, he led one of the nation’s top public health institutions, overseeing more than 1,300 students and a $100 million annual research portfolio. His tenure was marked by the launch of interdisciplinary initiatives tackling public health issues such as health equity, firearm injury prevention, and infectious disease response.

Dr. Bowman’s deep ties to Morehouse include mentoring students, establishing a student pipeline from Morehouse and Spelman to the University of Michigan, and serving as a two-time Morehouse parent. In 2019, he received the College’s highest alumni honor—the Bennie Trailblazer Award.

“Returning to Morehouse as its 13th president was the honor of a lifetime,” said Dr. Bowman. “This institution shaped who I am—instilling a commitment to excellence, justice, and impact. I looked forward to partnering with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters to build on our legacy and write the next chapter of Morehouse’s transformative story.”

Dr. Bowman’s appointment followed a significant institutional milestone: Morehouse was recently designated both a Research College & University (RCU) and an Opportunity College & University (OCU) in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. The dual recognition underscores the College’s expanding research capacity and its enduring mission to provide access and opportunity for underrepresented communities.

Before his tenure at Michigan, Dr. Bowman held academic and leadership positions at Columbia University and Emory University. He earned an M.S. in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Bowman is married to Cynthia Bowman, a graduate of Spelman College, with advanced degrees from Georgia Tech and Northwestern University. The couple has four children, including a 2024 Morehouse graduate and a current Morehouse student.