THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410230071
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Kathleen Bowman was inaugurated as the eighth president of Randolph-Macon Woman's College on Saturday, telling students and faculty the education of women is crucial for solving problems in the next century.
She is the college's second woman president, following in the footsteps of former president Linda Lorimer.
In her inauguration speech, Bowman addressed the global challenges that face society and the role of Randolph-Macon in addressing some solutions.
``It is widely accepted that the education of women is an essential component in successfully addressing the problems of the 21st century,'' Bowman said. ``Women have the ability to see things whole and to form the kind of relationships that will be important in the cross-cultural solution.''
Bowman became president this past spring after leaving her post as vice provost for international affairs at the University of Oregon.
Bowman discussed many impending social, political and economic issues facing the world in the coming decade with problems ranging from migration and overpopulation to global warming.
``It would be easy to look at these powerful forces and throw up our hands in despair,'' Bowman said, ``but we must not do so, because it is education that will make the critical difference in whether or not the human race will mobilize to address these problems of global scale.''
The Randolph-Macon college community built a Habitat for Humanity house for a low-income family in honor of the inauguration. That tied into Bowman's theme of community spirit.
``Randolph-Macon's readiness to educate women for the 21st century is in part its longstanding commitment to crossing borders and opening doors,'' Bowman said, ``beginning with the bold step in creating in 1891, a college for women whose curriculum was identical to that provided in the best colleges for men.''
Bowman was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Japan and Korea in 1993.
She has a doctorate in English Education from the University of Minnesota. by CNB