TJ Bowie G’19 is spreading his passion to help others by giving individuals opportunities to thrive at Elon and beyond.
TJ Bowie G’19 accepted his first role in the Office of Human Resources a year ago, but he’s been busy helping people.
As Elon’s first Equal Opportunity and Human Resources Compliance Manager, he is primarily responsible for all development and training around fair employment protocols, including reviewing hiring and employment practices. “We want to do everything we can to address bias and create a process that’s as inclusive and fair as possible,” says Bowie, adding that seeing people who weren’t given a chance in the first place because of bias succeed keeps it going.
It is something that has inspired him throughout his professional career. While working in residential life, his focus was on empowering staff and students from a social justice perspective. “A common theme in my career is developing people and the culture in which they work,” he says.
Bowie moved frequently as a child, but lived in Colorado for most of his upbringing. He spent time in high school living in a non-white majority community, an experience that allowed him to see injustice in action. “I’m not sure we ever had a conversation about the injustice that I saw and that I was able to wrap my head around as an adult,” he said.
He attended the Denver Jesuit Institute before completing two master’s degrees. “That’s really where I confronted my whiteness, my power as a white person, my whiteness and power,” says TJ. Since then, it has been a journey of using injustice to become a voice and address systems.
As an undergraduate, Bowie went to El Salvador as part of a study abroad opportunity, an opportunity that opened his eyes to more diversity. “It was the first time I saw people living in a desperate situation,” he recalls.
This strengthened his desire to help members of the community. “That’s what sparked this feeling in me,” he said. “I chose to build and develop others.”
While working as an assistant director of support services at Elon, he decided to pursue an MBA at Love Business School. After completing that program, Bowie began looking for opportunities to combine his passion and desire to help people with careers at the facility. Randy Williams met with Vice President and Associate Provost for All Excellence and Vice President of Human Resources Kelly Shuman and learned about the newly created role of Equal Opportunity and Human Resources Manager.
Bowie is eager to continue his journey of personal and professional growth. Earlier this year, he was selected to participate in the Selective Leadership Program offered by the College and University Human Resources Professional Association. As part of the 12-month program, Bowie will have the opportunity to develop his professional skills through mentorships, educational events and courses designed for learning experiences.
“It’s constant self-improvement,” he says. “I cannot effectively evaluate our practices and protocols without knowing who I am, how my identity is perceived in a professional setting, and my biases.”
The institution believes in its commitment to create an inclusive and just society. He said the creation of positions dedicated to supporting more equitable practices is as much a testament to that commitment as his own role. “If we can hire more equity-oriented people, we can be more inclusive as a society.”
Bowie hopes to enhance the experiences of others by helping individuals thrive and providing opportunities. “I say this over and over again, people who help people is what I do,” he says.
TJ Bowie is part of the “Humanity of People” series of Inclusive Excellence classes that celebrate the diversity of the Elon community to promote the values of inclusion and equity.
