PROVIDENCE – After working 44 years for Johnson & Wales University, 14 years of which as chancellor, president and CEO, John J. Bowen has announced he will retire Dec. 31.
The announcement, which came in a university release on Jan. 11, was accompanied by a message from Bowen to the JWU community.
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In this statement he said: “From the start of my own journey as a first-generation college student, higher education has been my passion. Helping students achieve their dreams of attaining a college education has been my lifelong commitment, and I look forward to continuing that work for the remainder of my time here. I am energized to finish strong, helping our senior leaders begin our next strategic plan – FOCUS 2022 – and working on the major fundraising campaign to support our university. As I am sure you have heard me say many times, I plan to leave Johnson & Wales University better than I found it.”
Under Bowen’s tenure, JWU embarked on plan set out in FOCUS 2011 including the creation of the College of Health and Wellness, the expansion of its doctoral offerings and saved $4 million by switching the university to sustainable energy options and encouraging green lifestyle choices among students and faculty.
In recognition of his four-decade-long tenure, the university’s new science innovation center – the John J. Bowen Center for Science and Innovation – was named for Bowen in September 2016.
This was a “fitting tribute to his more than four decades of service to the students, faculty and staff of Johnson & Wales,” said James H. Hance, Jr., chair of the JWU board of trustees in an accompanying statement.
JWU has contracted Dallas-based R. William Funk & Associates to lead the executive search for Bowen’s successor.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
