 He was succeeded by Kent Devereaux.He later told "Forbes" in an interview that he left due to feeling "burned out" managing a small college facing financial challenges, saying, "[f]ive years was a long time to be at the point of the spear and in crisis mode.”

Bowen is an experienced jazz pianist and has himself composed many Jewish-inspired musical pieces such as a jazz Shabbat, a fusion of jazz and klezmer influences, and Hanukkah music.Bowen has performed his jazz-style Shabbat at synagogues.