The first University of Iowa alumnus to become its president, John Gabbert Bowman was also the school's first Iowa-born chief administrator. The Davenport native received the B.A. degree in 1899, the M.A. in 1904, and the Litt.D. in 1934.

Bowman was born in Daveport, Iowa, on May 18, 1877. He spent two years as a newspaper reporter after receiving his B.A. in 1899 and then returned to the University as an instructor of English. In 1904, he went to Columbia University and was selected as the secretary of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. He remained in this position until he returned to Iowa to become the president of the State University of Iowa in 1911.

While university president, Bowman oversaw the formation of the colleges of Education and Fine Arts, the latter existing as a college for only a few years until it was reorganized as a school within the College of Liberal Arts. He also promoted the work of the University's Extension Division. Following his departure from Iowa, he became the first director of the American College of Surgeons in 1915. From 1921 to 1945 he was chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh and was its president from 1945 until retiring in 1947.

A controversial educator, Bowman promoted construction of the 42-story Cathedral of Learning at Pittsburgh, over the objections of many faculty members. Completed in 1929, it was at the time the tallest educational structure in the world.

Following his departure from Iowa, he became the first director of the American College of Surgeons in 1915. From 1921 to 1945 he was chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh and was its president from 1945 until retiring in 1947.

He married Florence Ridgway Berry in 1908, and they had two children. He died on December 2, 1962, at age 85.