The Bowdoin College Board of Trustees elected a new member to its ranks, reelected seven members to the board, and officially recognized the valued contributions made to the College by retiring members of the faculty, staff, and board of trustees during meetings held May 8–9, 2025.
Adam C. Gibbons ’91 is an investment advisor with Latash, Inc., an Anchorage, Alaska-based company providing investment advisory and consulting service to the Rasmuson Foundation and the Rasmuson family. Gibbons previously was an associate in JPMorgan’s real estate investment banking group and prior to that was with JPMorgan’s mergers and acquisitions group. An English and government and legal studies major at Bowdoin, Gibbons went on to earn his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as a trustee of the Nature Conservancy in Alaska and on the Philanthropy Committee of The Council on Foundations. His previous service to the College includes work as an associate class agent, Bowdoin Career Advisory Network (BCAN) advisor, and Reunion Committee member. Gibbons’s family has strong ties to the College, including his father, John Gibbons ’64, brother, Jay Gibbons ’88, sisters, Jenny Forti ’96 and Amanda Baer ’03, son Matias Gibbons ’26, and nephew Jamie Gibbons ’26.
REELECTED TRUSTEES
The board voted to reelect Joseph Adu ’07, William S. Anderson ’80, Sydney Asbury ’03, Katie R. Benner ’99, Holly E. Maloney ’07, John F. McQuillan Jr. ’87, and R. Stewart Strawbridge ’98 as trustees, all for a term of five years.
EMERITUS STATUS
Six retiring faculty and staff members were recognized with emerita/emeritus status for their devoted service to Bowdoin.
Mark A. Dickey was elected special projects manager emeritus. Dickey has been a mainstay at Bowdoin for forty-four years. He arrived on campus in 1980, initially working as a fraternity chef before transitioning to the dining halls as an assistant manager. Over the years, he took on more responsibility in various management roles, ultimately that of special projects manager. Those who have worked closely with him say Dickey has a “laser-like focus” on his constant goal that nothing should get in the way of providing the best possible service. A team player in all the best ways, Dickey is known for his kindness and for his willingness to step in whenever needed.
Scott W. Hood, elected senior vice president for communications and public affairs emeritus, is retiring after nearly thirty-six years of dedicated service to the College. Hood arrived at Bowdoin in 1989 in the role of news director, having crossed over from the world of journalism. Since that time, he has led the division of communications and public affairs through many changes, including the launch of Bowdoin’s first public website, four capital campaigns, and three presidential inaugurations. Along the way he has been the architect behind rollouts of important announcements, including the adoption of the College’s no-loan policy and the recent gift to establish the Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity, and has helped manage emergencies of all sizes, including the pandemic. Much of Hood’s work may be behind the scenes, but all of it has been in prideful service of promoting and protecting Bowdoin’s reputation.
Suzanne B. Lovett ’80 was elected associate professor of psychology emerita. Lovett joined the faculty in 1990, ten years after graduating from Bowdoin with a double major in psychology and math. A renowned expert in childhood and language development, Lovett was a lead researcher on the highly influential New England Consortium for the Assessment of Student Learning project, which looked at the academic and social experiences of students from seven colleges, starting with their first year in college and seeing them through to five years after graduation. Those who work closely with her say she has been a wonderful departmental colleague who constantly goes above and beyond to help her students, the department, and the College.
Elizabeth F. McCormack was elected senior vice president and dean for academic affairs and professor of physics emerita. McCormack arrived at Bowdoin in 2017 as senior vice president and dean for academic affairs, becoming a strong advocate for the faculty and helping to further the intellectual and curricular life of the College. She was thrust into the position of leading the faculty, library, museums, and all areas of academic support through a transition to remote learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, McCormack stepped down from her position as dean and, following a sabbatical resumed her scholarship as a professor in the physics department studying and teaching the fundamental aspects of molecular excited state-structure and dynamics using a variety of laser spectroscopy techniques.
Bridget Mullen was elected director, Upward Bound emerita. Mullen worked for Bowdoin’s Upward Bound program for thirty-two years, twenty-six as director. During her tenure, she helped more than 170 underprivileged high school students reach college. Ginny Ward, Upward Bound’s current director, says Mullen was “passionately committed to supporting students” and that she “would work tirelessly to make sure they had all the resources they needed—academically and personally.” That sometimes meant connecting them with mental health resources or finding them a safe place to live. The word around the Upward Bound office is that Mullen was a saint. No matter how stressful a situation may be, she remained calm, patient, and always held onto her foundation of deep empathy.
José Ribas ’76, elected technician/preparator emeritus, dedicated forty-three years to the College and its world-class Museum of Art—and actually more than that when you include the time he spent as an intern when he was a student here. By his own count, José has installed more than 800 exhibitions during his tenure as the museum’s technician and preparator. With his marvelous sense of color, he has also informed the process for selecting the wall color for each installation. He has been a mentor to generations of Bowdoin students, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in the arts and remained in touch with him.
Trustees also honored six departing board members, all of whom were elected to emerita/emeritus status.
Arthur E. Black ’91, elected trustee in 2010, David G. Brown ’79, elected trustee in 2000, Russell C. Crandall ’94, elected trustee in 2020, Jeff D. Emerson ’70, elected trustee in 2005, Joseph V. McDevitt Jr. ’75, elected trustee in 2015, and Paula M. Wardynski ’79, elected trustee in 2005, were all recognized with emerita/emeritus status.
The board also approved a resolution of appreciation recognizing Scott W. Hood for his decades of service to Bowdoin, most recently in his role as senior vice president for communications and public affairs, noting among his lasting contributions his steadfast commitment to promoting and protecting the College, indefatigable attention to detail, and wisdom, candor, and humor through issues large and small.
Board actions regarding the election and reelection of its members, and of faculty, staff, and trustees to emerita/emeritus status are effective July 1, 2025.
