Former U.S. Congressman David R. Bowen is set to provide the Colloquia address at Delta State on March 8.CLEVELAND, Miss.—The Delta State University Colloquia Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series will continue during the Spring 2022 semester with an address from former U.S. Congressman David R. Bowen (MS-2).
Bowen’s lecture, titled “Perspectives on Government and Politics,” will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, in Jobe Auditorium on Delta State’s campus. The event is free and open to the campus community and the general public.
The event will also be available for viewing both live and on-demand at https://livestream.com/deltastateuniversity.
Delta State President William N. LaForge established the colloquia program when taking office in 2013. The platform is an ongoing series of top-flight lectures and addresses featuring prominent speakers. William F. Winter, former Mississippi governor, was honored as the first speaker in 2013.
David Bowen was born in Houston, Miss., and grew up in Cleveland, Miss. He first ran for the United States Congressional seat for Mississippi’s second district (which includes the Mississippi Delta) in 1972 and was elected and served continuously from 1973-1982. He chose not to seek reelection in 1982.
During his five terms in office, Bowen established himself as a leader in agricultural, foreign policy affairs and maritime issues. He served as a ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Cotton, Rice and Sugar. He became nationally known for his expertise in these agricultural areas and guided substantial legislation in agriculture to ultimate passage by his House colleagues. He also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and on the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Prior to his election to Congress, Bowen taught history and political science at Millsaps College, served as Southeastern Coordinator for the Office of Economic Opportunity, was a staff associate for the United States Chamber of Commerce and was the first Federal-State Programs Coordinator for Mississippi from 1968 to 1972.
Following his congressional service, Bowen served as executive director of the Council for the National Interest in Washington, D.C., a foreign policy organization working on U. S. Middle East policy. He also turned his attention to teaching, creative writing, photography and writing political commentary in newspaper columns including the Clarion-Ledger.
Bowen received his bachelor’s degree at Harvard University and a master’s from Oxford University in England.
Learn more about the series at www.deltastate.edu/president/colloquia.
