Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, a nationally respected biostatistician and public health scholar, has been appointed the 13th president of Morehouse College.
Bowman is dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and holds the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professorship of Biostatistics, and is widely recognized for creating interdisciplinary approaches that center innovation, service, and inclusion.
A 1992 graduate of Morehouse, he will begin his new position on July 15, following the retirement of President David A. Thomas in June, a Morehouse statement said.
“This institution shaped who I am, instilling a commitment to excellence, justice, and impact,” Bowman said in a statement. “Returning to Morehouse as its 13th president is the honor of a lifetime.”
Bowman has led the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health since 2018, managing a research portfolio topping $100 million annually. Under his leadership, the school has launched major initiatives to confront public health challenges, including firearm injury prevention, health equity, and pandemic response, the statement said.
At the heart of Bowman’s research is the analysis of large and complex data sets to better understand neurological and psychiatric disorders. His work has helped uncover brain patterns associated with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, depression, and substance addiction, the statement said.
“Dr. Bowman brings an extraordinary blend of intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership,” said Willie Woods, chair of the Morehouse Board of Trustees. “His vision and his lifelong connection to Morehouse make him uniquely positioned to lead the College into its next chapter.”
Morehouse was recently designated both a Research College & University and an Opportunity College & University in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. “The dual designation reflects Morehouse’s growing investment in research and its enduring mission to provide students from underrepresented communities with access to life-changing education and competitive post-graduate outcomes,” the Morehouse statement reads.
Throughout his career, Bowman has remained a dedicated Morehouse alumnus and mentor. He has helped cultivate a pipeline of students from Morehouse and Spelman to the University of Michigan and was honored in 2019 with the College’s highest alumni distinction, the Bennie Trailblazer Award.
Before joining Michigan, he held faculty and leadership roles at Columbia University and Emory University. He holds a master’s degree in biostatistics from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in the field from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Bowman is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
