03.07.08 
Southeastern's College of Business and Legal Studies Dean Promoted to Vice President for Academic Affairs

By Southeastern University

Southeastern University College of Business and Legal Studies dean and finance professor Dr. Lyle Bowlin has recently been named Southeastern's Vice President for Academic Affairs.

"After an exhaustive, nationwide search to fill this position, I am pleased that Dr. Bowlin will assume the role of vice president of academic affairs," said Southeastern President Dr. Mark Rutland. "Lyle Bowlin's knowledge of Southeastern University and his entrepreneurial spirit will help propel Southeastern University to the next level of academic excellence."

Born and raised in Iowa, Dr. Bowlin received his bachelor's and master's degrees from The University of Iowa. He completed doctoral studies in finance at The University of Iowa and subsequently received his doctorate in finance from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Bowlin came to Southeastern after 15 years at the University of Northern Iowa where he taught in the finance department and served as the director of the Small Business Development Center and the assistant director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. He also produced and hosted a weekly radio program on a publicly owned African-American radio station for seven years, which led to him receiving the Iowa Lt. Governor's Prism Award in 1995 for fostering diversity in Iowa.

Dr. Bowlin joined Southeastern University in 2002 as an associate professor of finance and was named dean of the College of Business and Legal Studies in 2005. Under his leadership, Southeastern's College of Business and Legal Studies has grown from 160 graduates to over 500 and has become the largest academic department at Southeastern.

Dr. Bowlin also helped launch the MBA program in 2005 that now has over 50 full-time students. He was the chair when the business department received accreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). There are only 10 business colleges in Florida with IACBE accreditation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Christian Business Faculty Association.