Alvin Bowman facts for kids

Clarence Alvin Bowman is an American academic and a former President of Illinois State University (ISU). An academic is someone who works as a teacher or researcher at a college or university. He was trained in, and still teaches advanced classes about, speech pathology. Speech pathology is a field that helps people with communication problems.

About Clarence Bowman

Education and Early Career

Clarence Bowman is an African-American academic. He earned his first degree in speech pathology from Augustana College in 1975. After that, he received a Master's in speech-language pathology from Eastern Illinois University in 1976. He then completed his PhD in speech and hearing science at the University of Illinois in 1979.

Leading Illinois State University

Bowman began his career at Illinois State University (ISU) in 1978. He started as a faculty member in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. This department is now known as the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders.

In 1994, he became the head, or chair, of this department. He also directed the Down Syndrome Speech-Language Clinic. This clinic helps people with Down Syndrome improve their speech and language skills.

In 2002, Bowman took on a new role as the interim provost of Illinois State. A provost is a senior academic officer, often like a chief academic officer, at a university. In March 2004, the Board of Trustees voted to name him President of ISU. He served as president until 2013.

Family Life

Clarence Bowman is married to Linda Bowman. She is also a faculty member and adviser in the graduate division of the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders. Clarence and Linda Bowman have two daughters.

Retirement

Clarence Bowman announced his retirement in December 2012. He officially retired in 2013 after many years of service to Illinois State University.