Dr. David D. Bowman is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and Professor of Geology at Portland State University. A geophysicist and academic leader, Dr. Bowman brings a deep commitment to PSU’s mission of access, opportunity, and public service. His work centers on advancing student success, fostering faculty excellence, and building partnerships that connect knowledge and creativity to the needs of our city, our region, and our world.
Before joining Portland State University, Dr. Bowman served as Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at Eastern Washington University, where he led nearly a decade of growth and transformation across STEM disciplines. Under his leadership, EWU launched new degrees in Data Science and Cybersecurity, and expanded undergraduate research and experiential learning opportunities. He also established Washington’s first university-level MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Center, designed to support historically underrepresented students pursuing STEM degrees, and chaired the statewide MESA Board of Directors. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bowman served at California State University, Fullerton, as Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences and later as Interim Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
A seismologist by training, Dr. Bowman’s research explores the physics of earthquakes, the evolution of fault systems, and the prediction of large seismic events. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Southern California and completed postdoctoral research as a Chateaubriand Fellow in the Tectonics Laboratory at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. His scientific work has been published in leading journals and recognized by the Geological Society of America’s 2020 Outstanding Paper Award in Structural Geology and Tectonics.
Dr. Bowman is a 2020 Fellow of the UC Berkeley Executive Leadership Academy and has held leadership roles with the Southern California Earthquake Center, MOBIUS Spokane, and the Spokane STEM Network. His career reflects a consistent belief that universities are engines of equity and innovation—and that public institutions like Portland State play a uniquely powerful role in transforming lives and strengthening communities.