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Messenger photos by Stephanie Nesler
Capital University’s 10th president, Dr. Thomas Langevin, officially passes the the gavel to newly inaugurated President Denvy Bowman during the Oct. 7 inauuration ceremony. |
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| Eric Paton plays the Taiko Japanese drums during a piece of music commissioned especially for President Bowman’s Inauguration. |
Capital University celebrated the inauguration of its fifteenth president, Dr. Denvy A. Bowman, with a formal ceremony on Oct. 7. The inauguration ceremony culminated a day of events designed to celebrate Bowman’s appointment.
The elaborate ceremony was preceded by an academic procession including Capital faculty and about 33 delegates representing various colleges and universities. The ceremony featured many of the university’s talented musical students and included music commissioned especially for the inaugural event.
Dr. Thomas H. Langevin, Capital’s 10th president, presented Bowman a gavel, a symbol of the president’s office, and a Capital tradition, and in doing so formally passed the torch of presidency onto Bowman.
Bowman’s inaugural address, "Celebrating Our Heritage and Renewal," was a reflection of the university‚s historical past and its enduring future.
"We can see our future best by looking upon our past," said Bowman, stating that during his presidency he intends to reaffirm Capital’s shared values and explore the university’s shared dreams and desires.
Bowman, who succeeded Dr. Theodore L. Fredrickson, was named interim president and then officially selected the university’s 15th president in a unanimous vote taken March 29 by Capital’s Board of Trustees.
Fredrickson and former treasurer Don Aungst, who departed shortly before the president, left Capital with a large budget deficit. Bowman and his administrators have been working to eliminate the gap by closing satellite programs and curtailing other non-academic functions.
Bowman came to Capital in 2003 as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and soon after was appointed the university’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
Prior to joining the Capital community Bowman served as dean of the Arts and Humanities Division at Keene State College in Keene, N.H.
Bowman, who was born in Hillsville, Va., earned his bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College, a master’s degree in ancient history from the University of Virginia, and a doctorate in ancient history from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill.
