Dean F. DuBois Bowman to become president of Morehouse College
University of Michigan School of Public Health Dean F. DuBois Bowman will become the president of Morehouse College, effective July 15, 2025.
This appointment represents a homecoming for Bowman, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Morehouse. This transition mirrors his 2018 return to the University of Michigan School of Public Health—where he completed his master’s degree in Biostatistics—to serve as dean.
Bowman’s last day at the University of Michigan will be July 11, 2025. University of Michigan Provost Laurie McCauley will appoint an interim dean in the coming weeks.
“I am deeply honored to be selected to lead Morehouse, an institution that has played such a formative role in my life,” said Bowman. “This opportunity evokes the same sense of gratitude I felt returning to Michigan as dean—reconnecting with an institution that shaped my academic foundation. Leading the School of Public Health has been the highlight of my career thus far, allowing me to advance an institution with extraordinary education, research and public health practice.”
“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. "He brings an extraordinary blend of intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership."
During his seven-year tenure as dean, Bowman guided the School of Public Health through periods of unprecedented challenge and remarkable growth.
Under his leadership, the school enhanced its educational programs, now training more than 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students annually.
A significant achievement during his tenure was the 2021 launch of Public Health IDEAS, an interdisciplinary research initiative addressing critical societal challenges from controlling infectious disease to advancing health equity. This initiative further strengthened the school’s impressive research portfolio, which now exceeds $100 million in annual expenditures—the highest research volume per faculty member across the university.
The school engaged in and deepened partnerships with government, nonprofit and corporate partners. From Apple and Bank of America to the WHO and CDC to state and local health departments to local community organizations, these partnerships have improved public health in communities locally, nationally and around the globe.
Bowman also established two signature event series to foster engagement on key public health issues. Ahead of the Curve invites contemporary leaders like Sanjay Gupta and Gina McCarthy to share their insights, and the Exchange brings together diverse experts to address pressing public health challenges, from gun violence prevention to urban health.
These accomplishments contributed to the school’s rise to #2 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Public Health Schools list.
“Dean Bowman has also been an extraordinary partner and leader across the University of Michigan campus,” said McCauley. “He has been a driving force in initiatives that align with the university’s long-term goals. His dedication to innovation, inclusivity, and academic excellence have propelled the School of Public Health into a place of national prominence. I have no doubt he will serve and inspire the Morehouse College community with great distinction.”
Bowman, who is also the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professor of Biostatistics, 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. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, Bowman held positions at Columbia University and Emory University. In addition to his degrees from Morehouse and the University of Michigan, he earned a PhD in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“I’m profoundly grateful for the relationships I’ve built with our passionate students, esteemed faculty, dedicated staff, and collaborative partners throughout my time at Michigan,” Bowman said. “While I take immense pride in our collective achievements over these past seven years, I leave with complete confidence that the school will continue to flourish and make meaningful contributions to the health of all people.”