James Bowen

Class of 2014 | College of Education | Graduate student majoring in Educational Technology

student profile

James Bowen is proving that college isn’t just for students age 18 to 22. Bowen is part of a growing population of older students returning to college, and will be the oldest student at Tennessee State University to receive his degree at the upcoming 2014 Spring Commencement at age 67.

“This is all part of me reinventing myself,” said Bowen, who will graduate with a master’s degree in Educational Technology. “I would like, in the long run, to encourage people to keep on learning. Our education is never complete.”

Bowen first stepped onto the TSU campus in the mid 1960s and played defensive back on the football team under Coach “Big John” Merritt while pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology. He went on to graduate in 1968.

After a successful career as one of the nation’s top 50-car salesmen, Bowen decided at age 65 he needed to return to school to start his next business venture…helping older, nontraditional students “navigate the waters” of the admission process and how to approach “younger America.”

“I want to help others make that leap and provide them some insight on the application process and dealing with students more that half their age,” Bowen added.

Now that he is ready to graduate, Bowen is not only ready to share what he learned with others, but remain on campus with other students and continue learning. A life-long learner, he eventually wants to teach.
“Since being here at Tennessee State University, I’ve acquired this hunger and thirst for education,” Bowen said. “I would love to continue my studies and go into agricultural education and go into teaching. It’s a passion.”

Class of 2014 | College of Education | Graduate student majoring in Educational Technology





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