Jose Bowen, dean of the Meadows School of the Arts has agreed to another five-year term to serve as dean. (Photo courtesy SMU)

José Antonio Bowen has been dean of Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts for the past five years, in pursuit of sharing his passion for the arts through those who study them.

According to an e-mail from Provost Paul Ludden, Bowen will continue his work at SMU for another five-year term.

The dean and professor of music came to SMU in July of 2006 after serving as the dean of fine arts at Miami University in Ohio.

While at SMU, Bowen has encouraged professors to instruct by engaging students with face-to-face interaction, rather than behind the words of a PowerPoint presentation or a 48-minute lecture.

The dean has embraced the advantages of technology in the classroom through the use of podcasts and games and encourages others to do the same.

The Meadows’ dean has a passion for jazz.

He has appeared in Europe, Isreal and the United States with jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Brubeck and others.

Amidst his duties in the Owen Arts Center, Bowen also plays the keys in Jampact, a jazz quintet.

Bowen began teaching at Stanford University in 1982, the same university were he earned four degrees: a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, a Master of Arts in music composition, a Master of Arts in humanities and a joint Ph.D. in musicology and humanities.