ASU names Dr. Donald W. Bowyer to Dean of College of Fine Arts post

March 14, 2012
Dr. Donald W. Bowyer, the chairman of the music department at the University of Alabama-Huntsville since 2005, will become the dean of the College of Fine Arts at Arkansas State University. Dr. Bowyer replaces Dr. Dan Reeves who retired July 31, 2011 after serving as dean for 12 years. Director of Choral Activities Dr. Dale Miller has filled the role on an interim basis since Aug. 1 of last year.

Dr. Donald W. Bowyer, the chairman of the music department at the University of Alabama-Huntsville since 2005, will become the dean of the College of Fine Arts at Arkansas State University. Dr. Bowyer replaces Dr. Dan Reeves who retired July 31, 2011 after serving as dean for 12 years. Director of Choral Activities Dr. Dale Miller has filled the role on an interim basis since Aug. 1 of last year.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to join the outstanding faculty, staff, and students at Arkansas State University,” said Dr. Bowyer. “When I visited the campus a few weeks ago, I was particularly impressed by the commitment to the future that I saw both on campus and around Jonesboro.

“I look forward to working with the remarkable visual and performing artists in the College of Fine Arts as we continue to contribute to the quality of life that the arts bring to this community. Additionally, I believe that my own interests in building international partnerships, incorporating technology into the arts, and composing new music are a good fit for the future of the College of Fine Arts at Arkansas State University."

An accomplished musician as well as a strong academician, Dr. Bowyer will join the ASU Fine Arts administration after being employed at the University of Alabama-Huntsville since 1998. While there, he served as the chairman of the music department since 2005 after working as co-chair from 2003-05. In addition to overseeing the department consisting of six full-time and 33-part-time faculty, he taught jazz, music technology, music theory and composition and directed the school’s annual New Music Festival.

He also coordinated and administered departmental budgets, curriculum, scheduling, advising, recruitment, scholarships and special events.

Dr. Bowyer also has experience in the corporate world with ownership of Dolphin Don’s Music School in Huntsville. He also worked as a cruise ship orchestra musician with Holland American Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. His employment has also taken him to All Saints Cathedral School in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands as a music teacher, as well as Osthammars Kommunala Musikskola in Osthammar, Sweden.

Interim Chancellor, Dr. Dan Howard stated, “Arkansas State University is most fortunate that Dr. Donald Bowyer has agreed to become the next Dean of the College of Fine Arts following a rigorous national search in which he emerged as the candidate demonstrating the absolute best fit to the University. “ Dr. Howard predicted that Dr. Boyer will enjoy a considerable amount of support and success in his new position and encouraged the campus and community to welcome him with open arms.

While at Alabama-Huntsville, Dr. Bowyer helped increase the enrollment and scholarships in the Department of Music. In addition, he led the department through a self-study and re-accreditation visit in 2010 and served as an accreditation visitor for the organization.

He has performed extensively both in the United States as well as internationally in Virginia, Idaho, Alabama, Minnesota, Connecticut, Thailand, Sweden Alaska, Hungary, Canada, Japan, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

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