OPENING CONVOCATION
C E L E B R A T I N G T H E S TA RT O F T H E 2 0 2 6 - 2 0 2 7 A C A D E M I C S C H O O L Y E A R
THursday, September 10, 2026 | 10:45 A.M. M A RT I N LU T H E R K I N G J R . I N T E R N A T I O N A L C H A P E L A T M O R E H O U S E C O L L E G E
F. DuBois Bowman Ph.D.,
a 1992 graduate of Morehouse College, serves as the 13th president of the College. An internationally recognized expert in biostatistics and public health, his research has advanced understanding of mental and neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, schizophrenia, and addiction, as well as the effects of environmental exposures on brain development in youth. Before returning to Morehouse, he was dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and held leadership roles at Columbia University and Emory University. Dr. Bowman is a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), vice president of the American Statistical Association (ASA), past president of the Eastern North American Region (ENAR) of the International Biometric Society, and a proud member of the Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is married to Spelman College alumna Cynthia Bowman, and they are the parents of four children, including a 2024 Morehouse graduate and a student in the Morehouse Class of 2028.
CEREMONIAL MARSHALS CHIEF CEREMONIAL MARSHAL Dr. John K. Haynes ‘64
LEAD MARSHALS OF STUDENTS Mr. Illya E. Davis ‘89 Dr. Brian Lawrence
MACEBEARER Dr. Lance S. Young ‘95
MARSHALS OF THE STUDENTS Dr. Howard Jean-Denis Dr. Jaime Chavez Dr. Alison Ligon Dr. Yohance Murray ‘96 Dr. Wallace Sharif ‘94 Dr. Corey Stayton Dr. Taura Taylor
MARSHALS OF THE FACULTY Dr. Adria Welcher Dr. Nina Gilbert MARSHALS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY Dr. Derrick M. Bryan ‘04 Dr. Dwayne Joseph ‘00 Dr. Aisha Meeks Dr. Robert Tanner
MARSHAL OF THE ALUMNI Mr. Joseph S. Carlos III ‘04 Mr. Michael Levesque ‘88
PROGRAM
Presiding Kendrick Brown, Ph.D.
Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs PRELUDE
“All Creatures of Our God and King” Arr. David Oliver
Dr. David F. Oliver College Organist
“Trumpet Tune”
Dr. David F. Oliver
PROCESSIONAL
John Stanley
CALL TO ORDER
Provost Kendrick Brown, Ph.D.
RINGING OF THE SPRINGFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH BELL
OPENING PRAYER
The Reverend Dr. Jason R. Curry ‘92 Dean, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel The Reverend Dr. Jason R. Curry ‘92
PRESENTATION OF COLORS
“The Star Spangled Banner” “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”
WELCOME
Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps
Mr. Christopher Lambry Jr. ‘28 95th President, Student Government Association
OCCASION & INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER
MUSICAL SELECTION
Provost Kendrick Brown, Ph.D.
“Witness”
Morehouse College Glee Club
Arr. Moses Hogan
CONVOCATION MESSAGE
President F. DuBois Bowman, Ph.D. ‘92 13th President of Morehouse College
CLOSING REMARKS
Provost Kendrick Brown, Ph.D.
COLLEGE HYMN
“Dear Old Morehouse”
RECESSIONAL
“Trumpet Voluntary”
J.O.B. Mosley ‘29
Jeremiah Clarke
Dr. David E. Morrow ‘80 Professor & Director of the Morehouse College Glee Club
Dr. David F. Oliver College Organist
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing
Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.
Dear Old Morehouse
Dear old Morehouse, dear old Morehouse, We have pledged our lives to thee; And we’ll ever, yea forever Give ourselves in loyalty. True forever, true forever, To old Morehouse may we be; So to bind each son the other Into ties more brotherly. Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Make us steadfast, honest, true, To old Morehouse, and her ideals, And in all things that we do.