As a newcomer to Southeast this year, Dr. Wayne Bowen, chair of the Department of History, has already begun to build quite the reputation as a professor who is a life long learner.  It’s not surprising, then, that he attended the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., as an alternate delegate from Arkansas.  He was elected to represent former Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won a large majority of the state's votes in the February G.O.P. primary.  As an alternate, his responsibility was to take the place of any delegate who had to leave the floor of the convention center, ensuring full representation whenever the convention was in session. 

“I did take the time to go on the floor when I could, and met Karl Rove, a close advisor to President Bush, Jon Voight, one of the few Republican actors, as well as several congressmen, governors and senators, including Missouri's own Senator Kit Bond,” Wayne said.

The highlights for Wayne were the speeches by Sarah Palin and John McCain, as well as meeting Vietnam Veteran Jim Warner, a former prisoner of war who met McCain when they were both prisoners of the North Vietnamese.  

“The convention was a real learning experience for me,” Wayne added.  “In addition to hearing the speeches, which was a phenomenal education in civics, I was also in awe of the logistics.  Security was very tight, given that there were hundreds, if not thousands, of anarchists threatening to disrupt the event.  Every bus had a police officer on it, and the convention center itself had three rings of security.  In addition to area law enforcement, there were also National Guard units, Secret Service, and other state and local police on hand to protect us and the event.” 

Wayne also said, “It was interesting to see the coordination behind such a major event, involving over 5,000 delegates and alternates, and close to 40,000 other official guests, members of the media and convention volunteers.  For all of the complexity, and the additional challenge brought by Hurricane Gustav, the host committee, made up of local and state representatives, ran the event flawlessly.”

A native of Lompoc, Calif., Wayne received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Southern California (USC) and his master’s degree and doctoral degree in European history from Northwestern University.

“My parents and grandparents were all teachers, but until college I never considered it as a career,” Wayne said, “It wasn't until I took several history courses at USC, and was inspired by several professors, that I decided that would be my future, too.”

When teaching, Wayne said he prefers to lead seminars using the Socratic Method of questioning, but even in lecture-based survey courses, he tries to engage the students with the material through questions and small group discussions.

Wayne says he has enjoyed Southeast and the Cape Girardeau region, especially after learning about its history and geography and being introduced to the small towns and communities that make up the Bootheel.

“I most enjoy spending time with my wife and three-year-old son.  He is a joy, most of the time, and continually surprises me with his comments on his world,”  Wayne adds.  “Beyond time with family, I am also a major in the Army Reserve, with more than 18 years of service.  I enjoy the training, leadership experiences and other opportunities I have had as a result of my time in uniform.”

In 2004, the Army sent Wayne to Iraq as a Civil Affairs officer, and assigned him to work with universities and archaeological sites. 

“It was an honor to serve with my fellow soldiers, as well as to work with many courageous and noble Iraqis, as we tried to rebuild their nation after decades of tyranny, neglect and war,” Wayne said.
 
Wayne said he enjoys traveling. 

“I've visited 28 countries on four continents, but I have a tough standard to beat; my grandparents were all world travelers, with well over 100 countries between them.  I'd like to make it to Turkey, Egypt, Norway and the rest of Scandinavia and also go back to some of my favorite places: Spain, Ireland, and the UK.  The Lord of the Rings fan in me also wants to see New Zealand.”
 
Wayne says he would like his students to know that he is learning at the same time as they are.  Every time he gives a lecture or leads a discussion, he says he learns from his students a new way to see the material.

He offers the following advice to his students: “Life, like my exams, is cumulative.  You may never know when something you learn today in math, English composition or history will be the key to completing a task, building a relationship, or satisfying someone's curiosity.”

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