Robert Edward “Bob” Bowman, 94, professor emeritus and former department chair in the Department of Psychology, died peacefully Nov. 21, 2022, at his home in Cross Plains, Wisconsin.
In 1954, Bob graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in chemistry, then went on to earn a PhD in psychology from UW–Madison in 1958. He spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Utah before returning to UW–Madison, where he enjoyed a 33-year career as a research scientist and teacher, retiring in 1992 as a professor emeritus. He worked at the Harlow Primate Lab, studying the effect of environmental toxins such as lead, dioxin, and PCBs on brain function and behavior in rhesus monkeys. During those decades, he authored some 124 papers and book chapters, and mentored dozens of graduate students. He chaired the Psychology Department from 1972 to 1975, and taught classes including physiological psychology and psychochemistry. His introductory statistics course struck fear into the hearts of psychology undergraduates.
A full obituary can be found here. The Department of Psychology sends its condolences to his family, friends, and all those who had the pleasure of working alongside him.