Dear members of the Kenyon College community,
I write to share the news that Provost Jeff Bowman has decided to conclude his tenure as Kenyon’s chief academic officer at the end of this academic year, on June 30. I am deeply grateful to Jeff for his wisdom and his partnership, and I know that many of you feel the same.
Jeff has shepherded Kenyon’s academic program with intelligence, imagination and immense integrity for the better part of a decade, serving first as associate provost and then, starting in 2020, as provost. The Board of Trustees named him interim president when my predecessor, Sean Decatur, stepped down to become president of the American Museum of Natural History. Jeff led the College ably and energetically from July 2022 to October 2023 — another gift for which the College and I are profoundly grateful.
It is no small detail that Jeff’s tenure as provost coincided with some of the most turbulent years in the history of higher education. From navigating a global pandemic to bracing against waves of shifting educational policy, I can think of no one better equipped to anchor us in our liberal arts mission. Jeff would be the first to attribute Kenyon’s resilience to the strength and imagination of our extraordinary faculty and staff, and to the promise of our remarkable students — all true — but it also is a reflection of his exceptional leadership.
As provost, Jeff has been committed to supporting a rigorous, interdisciplinary and inspiring curriculum. He has played a critical role in shaping and realizing the vision for Kenyon’s next century, advancing key elements of the strategic plan such as the program in computing, nurturing a global curriculum and continuing to build structures to support students’ success in college and after graduation.
It is hard to imagine filling Jeff’s sturdy shoes. We will launch a national search in the coming weeks with the aim of having a new provost in place before the start of next academic year. I will invite a member of the faculty to join me as co-chair of the search, along with several other faculty members and representatives from the staff and the Board of Trustees. Please watch for details.
We will find an appropriate time this spring to honor Jeff and his many accomplishments in and beyond the Provost’s Office. Following a much-deserved break, Jeff plans to return full-time to teaching and his scholarly pursuits — something I know we will all celebrate.
With gratitude,
Julie Kornfeld
President