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Former Princeton president to speak at College Centre dedication convocation
DANVILLE, KY—William G. Bowen, one of the most distinguished figures in American higher education, will be the speaker at the dedication convocation of The College Centre, Centre College's new state-of-the art academic and athletic facility.
Bowen, the co-author of The Game of Life, a bestselling book on college sports, will speak about how a liberal arts education can bring together the life of the mind and body. The convocation, which is free and open to all, will take place in Newlin Hall of the Norton Center for the Arts on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m.
From 1972 to 1988, Bowen was president of Princeton University, where he was also professor of economics and public affairs. As president, Bowen presided over many changes on campus, including the creation of the residential college system and the construction or expansion of numerous buildings. Princeton's endowment grew from $625 million in 1972 to more than $2 billion at the time of Bowen's departure.
Since 1988, Bowen has been president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which focuses on higher education, museums and art conservation, performing arts, conservation and the environment, and public affairs.
In addition to The Game of Life, Bowen has written or co-authored the books Equity and Excellence in American Higher Education; Reclaiming the Game: College Sports and Educational Values; the Grawemeyer Award-winning The Shape of the
River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions; The Charitable Nonprofits: An Analysis of Institutional Dynamics and Characteristics; Inside the Boardroom; and In Pursuit of the Ph.D.
A graduate of Denison University (A.B. 1955) and Princeton University (Ph.D. 1958), he joined the Princeton faculty in 1958 and served as provost there from 1967 to 1972.
During his years as provost, Bowen was involved in Princeton's conversion to coeducation, its program to increase the enrollment of minority group students, and its efforts to bring the budget more closely in line with income.
Bowen is also the chairman of the board of Ithaka Harbors Inc., a nonprofit group backed by Mellon that promotes the use of technology in higher education. He serves on the boards of JSTOR, American Express; Merck & Co. Inc.; and the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development. He also serves on the boards of overseers of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association and College Retirement Equities Fund.
The College Centre dedication, another free event open to the public, will take place on Friday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. at the arch between Crounse and Sutcliffe halls.
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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/
For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.
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