The inauguration of Dr. F. DuBois Bowman as the 13th president of Morehouse College was more than a ceremonial milestone; it was a homecoming. Under the theme “Building Principled Leaders: Steadfast, Honest, True,” the College formally welcomed back one of its own to lead the next chapter of its storied and indelible history.
Morehouse College's 13th president, Dr. F. DuBois Bowman
The day’s events unfolded with reverence, tradition, and palpable anticipation. An academic march, accompanied by African tradition drummers, set the tone for the occasion. As the Howard Thurman bells rang, the formal processional began, an energy that could be felt from Brown Street through the heart of campus and into the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. The outpouring of support from students, alumni, faculty, and the broader community was unmistakable and deeply felt.
The processional was a powerful visual of Morehouse’s legacy and reach, featuring the collective NROTC Color Guard; the revered Dean of the Chapel, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.; the marshal and macebearer; over 95 representatives of colleges, universities, and learned societies; faculty; the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers and Scholars; National Alumni Association representatives; members of the senior class; and the platform party. The platform party included academic division deans, the Director of the Atlanta University Consortium, the Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Robert W. Woodruff Library, members of the Strategy Group, the Senior Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs, Atlanta University Center presidents and presidents emeriti, trustees and trustees emeriti, and honored state and local elected officials, including officers and the chairman of the Board of Trustees.
From left to right: Verdun S. Perry ’94; Willie E. Woods ’85; 13th President of Morehouse College, Dr. F. DuBois Bowman ’92; 9th President of Morehouse College, Dr. Walter E. Massey ’58; 12th President of Morehouse College, Dr. David A. Thomas; 11th President of Morehouse College, Dr. John S. Wilson '79; and 10th President of Morehouse College, Dr. Robert M. Franklin Jr. '75
Greetings and proclamations followed from civic leaders, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta City Councilman Michael Bond. Moraima "Mo" Ivory, Commissioner of Fulton County, offered deeply personal remarks, expressing her appreciation for President Bowman and First Lady Cynthia Bowman. A longtime friend, she shared a reflection on President Bowman’s integrity and decisiveness—even in difficult moments—and pledged a strengthened partnership between Fulton County and Morehouse College.National and higher education leaders also welcomed President Bowman home.
Dr. Michael L. Lomax ’68, President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, delivered remarks affirming Morehouse’s enduring role in educating principled leaders. Roz Brewer, President of Spelman College, welcomed President Bowman back to the Atlanta University Center on behalf of all AUC presidents, inviting him into a tightly knit community of colleagues and neighbors bound by shared culture, commitment, and values.
Representing the faculty, Dr. Ulrica Wilson, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, pledged continued partnership with the president. She emphasized a collective commitment to shared goals across academic divisions, breaking down individualism, supporting the common mission, and nurturing the holistic development of the men of Morehouse.Student leadership added a powerful and future-facing voice. Kenneth Ugo ’26, the 94th SGA President, reverently addressed President Bowman and the Class of 2026. With graduation less than 90 days away, he affirmed that the senior class stands firmly with President Bowman, his first graduating class. The declaration sparked applause and excitement across the chapel, signaling student optimism for the emerging “Bowman Era” at Morehouse.
Kenneth Ugo '26, 94th SGA President & President Bowman
Prayers were offered over President Bowman’s administration, invoking guidance rooted in steadfastness, honesty, and truth—along with peace and protection amid the pressures facing higher education today. Those offering prayers and reflections included Rev. Dr. Michael A. Walrond Sr. ’93, Senior Pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, and Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III ’92, Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, who brought greetings from the Class of 1992 and affirmed their trust and admiration in President Bowman’s leadership. Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson ’96 also offered prayers and words of encouragement.
The ceremony reached a defining moment as President Bowman was formally conferred the symbols of office—sacred elements including the College keys, seal, presidential robe, medallion and chain, and the iconic presidential chair, which he occupied on stage for the first time. The Bowman family joined him for a deeply moving presentation of the official oil portraits of President Bowman and First Lady Cynthia Bowman, presented by Dr. Walter E. Massey ’58, marking an emotional and historic moment for the family and the College.
First lady Cynthia Bowman and President Bowman
President Bowman then delivered his inaugural address, “Building Principled Leaders: Steadfast, Honest, True,”articulating a vision grounded in Morehouse’s legacy and responsive to the demands of the present moment. His remarks affirmed a presidency committed to moral clarity, academic excellence, and the formation of leaders prepared to serve the world with courage and integrity.
As the ceremony concluded, one truth resonated clearly: this inauguration was not simply the beginning of a presidency; it was the reaffirmation of a shared purpose and a collective belief in the power of Morehouse to shape the next generation of the world's top leaders.
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