Monday, September 26, 2005

By Emily Walsh, PR Intern

Wilmington, N.C. – Gilbert Bowen has been named registrar of University of North Carolina Wilmington. He comes to UNCW from the State University of New York at Stony Brook on Long Island where he served as university registrar and most recently was a consultant for student computer systems. Bowen received his bachelors in biology and his master’s degrees in Liberal Studies and Political Science from Stony Brook.

Bowen intends to raise the awareness of what the registrar’s office does for the UNCW community. “A registrar is the guardian of student academic records. We deal with class schedules, getting students into classes, and keeping their transcripts safe and secured so that unauthorized people don’t change or access them. I would like to anticipate events and potential problems before they become problems. I am very fortunate to have inherited this office. Things were running smoothly on the day I came in, thanks to a dedicated staff. Since I’ve been on campus, I have received a tremendous amount of support from everyone. I have enjoyed my first months here because of that friendliness and support. We are a team with common goals,” said Bowen.

Bowen and his wife, Holly, who also works on campus, were introduced to Wilmington by their daughter Alison, who graduated from UNCW in spring 2005 and is now attending graduate school at Eastern Carolina University. His other daughter, Jessica, is a local elementary school teacher and his son, Zachary, attends John T. Hoggard High School.

“It’s exciting to be on a campus where there is always something new going on. I can learn, be involved, and never be in a routine. Wilmington is also a lot like Long Island; there is a lot of traffic, great beaches, and a mixture of people,” he said.

When Bowen is not on campus he follows the live music available in Wilmington’s “terrific downtown area, its many festivals, and beaches.” He plays the flute and guitar and enjoys boating and swimming. He is a big New York Yankees fan and is looking forward to attending UNCW baseball games.

Bowen “encourages students to use the registrar’s Web-site for questions, suggestions, concerns. These e-mails are read everyday and what is said is always taken in to consideration. We need student and faculty feedback.”

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Gilbert Bowen can be reached at 910/962-3123 or via e-mail bowengc@uncw.edu