Carroll M. Bowen Memorial Scholarship

Both the City of Thousand Oaks and California Lutheran University owe a debt of gratitude to the Bowen family. For Betty Shirey Bowen, a founding faculty member of the CLU music department, had a major impact on the cultural development of the Conejo Valley through her musical abilities. And her husband Carroll Bowen put his efforts into the development of the city itself.

In the early 1960s, Carroll was much involved in the drive to incorporate Thousand Oaks, which was accomplished in 1964. Later he served two terms on the city council and one year as mayor. But he too had a strong CLU connection—as both a student and a teacher. He had been one of the early recipients of CLU’s master’s in public administration degree, a program which began in 1976. He continued his interest in public affairs by teaching in that same MPA program for 10 years.

As their careers progressed, Carroll and Betty were also raising their two sons, Marshall and Fred, both of whom became CLU alumni. Marshall was a member of the class of 1975, and Fred, the class of 1979. It was through their efforts that this scholarship became endowed.

Together, Fred and Marshall designed the Carroll M. Bowen Memorial Scholarship for the benefit of upper-division political science students. That had, after all, been the focus of their father’s life and work. Through the scholarship that bears the Bowen name, the family’s influence continues to be felt.