Charles H. Bowman ’59 and his wife Lynn A. Holleran increased a $50,000 endowment gift made in 2005 in support of programs that enhance exchanges, cultural programming and students of the Middle East. The endowment is now double its original intent totaling more than $100,000.

Bowman, professor emeritus and former Department Head of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M, played a significant role in helping to establish the Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). He held the interim dean and CEO position for the Qatar campus in 2003 and in again in 2006 until Mark Weichold took over as dean and CEO in January of 2007.

Bowman has been a driving force in the implementation of the engineering program at Education City in Doha, said Emily Ashworth, associate vice president for international programs, adding that Bowman was involved in the Texas A&M University at Qatar from the very beginning of the negotiations and has served in any capacity asked during the past five years and continues to serve on the Joint Advisory Board for the branch campus.

“With this gift, Chuck and Lynn are continuing to pave the way to a different kind of success,” Ashworth said. “This gift will allow for scholarships, leadership development programs and cultural exchanges between the students of the Doha campus and the College Station campus, and will promote a better understanding of the Middle East in general.”

Linda Edwards, director of the Office of International Outreach, said the Bowman’s endowment makes it possible to highlight regions of the Middle East for students on the College Station campus and in the local community.

“Students have successfully brought Celebrating Arab Cultures to the campus and the community twice now – in 2005 and 2007.” Edwards said, “I believe it is important to provide events that can help destroy stereotypes and present a positive image of the Arab students, faculty and scholars who live, work and study in our community.”

Another benefit of the gift is the availability of emergency funds for financially distressed students who are citizens of Middle Eastern or Middle Gulf countries who are studying at Texas A&M.

Ashworth said that in recognition of the couple’s generosity, the scholarship is known as the Charles Bowman and Lynn Holleran International Endowment Scholarship.

Contact:  Linda Edwards

Phone:  979-862-6700