Introduction
of the 2008 José Vasconcelos World Award of Education Winner

by David P. Dobkin
Dean of the Faculty Princeton University

(Princeton University, November 11, 2008)
The recipient of the 2008 José Vasconcelos World Award of Education is renowned educator William G. Bowen, President emeritus of Princeton University, and President emeritus of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This award is presented to Dr. Bowen for his lifetime of work creating educational opportunities for those historically denied them, either because of their race, gender, or socioeconomic circumstances, thus ensuring that American colleges incorporate the concept of equal opportunity in their selection criteria. In addition, during his tenure as the Mellon Foundation´s longest serving president, he played a pivotal role in harnessing information technology in the service of scholarship.

Dr. Bowen received his Ph.D. from Princeton, and joined our faculty in 1958 as a professor of economics and public affairs. He was appointed provost in 1967, and was president of Princeton from 1972 to 1988. As President Tilghman said yesterday, in the course of his long career, he has “challenged his fellow educators and fellow citizens to reconsider the means and ends of learning.” Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to introduce the recipient of this year´s José Vasconcelos World Award of Education, William G. Bowen.