Rose M. Bowers-Chew, PhD, is renowned as a physical education educator with more than 50 years of innovation in her field. An active child, she participated in track and field and played several sports, despite the limited availability of organized women’s sports in schools at the time. She initially pursued an education at Grambling State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1966. She continued her studies with a Master of Education at Lincoln University of Missouri in 1971. Dr. Chew completed further postgraduate coursework at the University of Missouri, and earned a PhD at Texas Women’s University in 1982.
From 1967 to 1971, Dr. Chew worked as a teacher for Jefferson City Public Schools in Jefferson City, Missouri. She further flourished as an instructor at Lincoln University of Missouri from 1971 to 1976 and an assistant professor and the director of enrichment at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, from 1978 to 1984. Dr. Chew was additionally active as an assistant professor at Grambling State University from 1985 to 1988 and an associate professor at Alcorn State University from 1988 to 1992.
Dr. Chew was notably appointed as a chairperson of physical education programs at Paul Quinn College in Dallas in 1992, a role in which she excelled until 2010. She returned to Grambling State University in 2011 as a professor of sports and leisure studies, finding success in this position until her retirement in 2019. A certified professor of leisure studies, she considers it an honor to see students enter her classroom unmotivated and leave excited about the skills and methodologies they have acquired. She is particularly proud to have former students later participate in professional sports at a high level. Dr. Chew is a member of the Alliance for Health and the National Recreation and Parks Association, for which she participated on the board of directors from 1988 to 1990.
Dr. Chew’s inspirations were Dr. Charles Henry and Pearl Voughn, who guided her immensely as she followed their example. She also cites her co-worker Beverly Hopkins, who took her under her wing, and she feels she has been successful in teaching because of her influence. Dr. Chew considers all people’s feelings and her expertise is diversity in the educational field. Diversity is one of her strongest qualities; regardless of where they are from, she accepted students and parents as they were and worked from there. Today, she is the proud mother of two children, Shelly Ann and Marcus R., and grandmother of seven beloved grandchildren.