Inspiration
A profoundly personal legacy
Michele Bowman Underwood is shining a light on her lifelong passions with a transformational bequest to the University. An avid golfer and multilingual traveler, Michele Bowman
generosity, which will advance key priorities at the University of
Underwood has woven the strands of her life into a permanent
Miami,” said President Julio Frenk. “Her support will embolden our
legacy with a gift to the University’s Ever Brighter campaign that
pursuit of discovery in modern languages and women’s health and
supports modern languages, women’s health, and women’s golf.
open doors to brighter opportunities for our student-athletes in golf.”
Her life has been well-travelled, sporting, and adventurous. Listen to her reminisce and a more profound story emerges, as
of the institution. Her initial gifts, to the Rosenstiel School of Marine
does a keen understanding of how opportunities denied can leave
and Atmospheric Science and the Department of Chemistry, were
potential wasted.
made in 1997 in memory of her late first husband, Philip Bowman.
Having had no children of her own, Bowman Underwood said
A distinguished research chemist who served as president and
that “the University of Miami is my child.” In that spirit, she has made a
chairman of Bristol Laboratories, Bowman pursued the study of
commitment to bequeath a share of her estate to the University.
marine biology and biochemistry.
Valued at more than $25 million, her bequest will benefit the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, which was named in her honor at a reception in the College of Arts and
With this bequest, Bowman Underwood has designated areas of support that are all deeply personal. As a young girl growing up in a French Jewish-Catholic family
Sciences in February 2022. The gift will also fund research focused
in wartime Algiers, she endured frequent bombing raids. Later, as
on women’s health at the Miller School of Medicine and provide
immigrants, first to Brazil and then to Chile, the family waited years
scholarships and program support for the women’s golf team.
for the opportunity to come to the United States.
“We are grateful to Michele Bowman Underwood for her 8
Bowman Underwood has previously supported various areas
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
“I am a World War II survivor—we were bombed on a nightly
