Tom Bowen & New President Whitmore Talk Athletics
New University President Jon S. Whitmore and his wife, Jennifer, are behind the Spartans 100 percent.
With the speed and efficiency of 10.1-second 100-meter sprinter, new San Jose State University President Jon S. Whitmore and Director of Athletics Tom Bowen met on May 27 and discussed the present and future course of Spartan athletics.
“We had a fantastic meeting. It was a great opportunity to share with the President where we are with our program and the exciting things we have in store for the 2008-09 year. President Whitmore and his wife, Jennifer, clearly are 100 percent behind the Spartans,” said Bowen following their first formal meeting.
The incoming San Jose State University President takes charge from Don W. Kassing on August 1, 2008. Whitmore served as president of Texas Tech University from 2003 to 2008 where he also held a professorship in theatre. In his five years, the Red Raiders played in a football bowl game every season, appeared in three NCAA men’s and two NCAA women’s basketball tournaments.
From 1996 to 2003, Whitmore served as provost and professor of theatre arts at the University of Iowa, and was dean, College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin from 1990 to 1996.
Whitmore was also dean, Faculty of Arts and Letters at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1985 to 1990 where he was also a professor of theatre. Whitmore was affiliated with West Virginia University from 1974 to 1985, where he served as interim dean for the College of Creative Arts, interim director of the Creative Arts Center, faculty member, and as assistant to the president.
His Ph.D. is in theatre history from the University of California, Santa Barbara; his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in speech, Washington State University.