The Higher Education of the Newest Black U.S. Senator

cowenWilliam “Mo” Cowan was named interim U.S. senator for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Governor Deval Patrick. He will take the seat held by Democratic Senator John Kerry who was confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Secretary of State. Cowan will serve until a special election in June that will choose who will fill out the remainder of Kerry’s term. Cowan has stated that he will not be a candidate for the seat in the special election.

Cowan will be the second African American in the U.S. Senate. Both have been appointed to their seats by their state governors. In December 2012, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley appointed GOP Congressman Tim Scott to the seat held by Senator Jim DeMint who left his post to become president of the Heritage Foundation.

Cowan was named chief of staff to Governor Patrick in 2010. Previously, he had been the governor’s chief legal counsel. Prior to joining the governor’s staff, he was a partner in the Boston law firm, Mintz Levin.

Cowan is a native of North Carolina. He is a graduate of Duke University and the Northeastern University School of Law in Boston.

Related Articles

2 COMMENTS

  1. Congratulations to U. S. Senator Wlliam Cowan.
    As a graduate student at Duke University in 1969-70, I
    could only dream that one day you, and others like you,
    would one day be where you are. You make us all proud!
    Imogene Hodge Draper
    B. S., Hampton Institute, Class of 1964
    MEd., Duke University, Class of 1970

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Sanofi Grants $18 Million to Three Historically Black Medical Schools to Increase Diversity in Clinical Studies

Thanks to an $18 million investment from Sanofi, Meharry Medical College, Howard University, and Morehouse School of Medicine plan to expand their clinical research staff, pharmacy infrastructure, and training programs.

Kemeshia Swanson Receives 2024 Eudora Welty Book Prize

Dr. Swanson, an assistant professor at Mississippi State University, has been recognized for her new book, Maverick Feminist: To Be Female and Black in a Country Founded Upon Violence and Respectability.

Student Athletes Report Bats and Snakes in Locker Room Showers at Alcorn State University

Current and former members of the Alcorn State University's women's soccer team have reported sightings of bats and snakes in their locker room showers. The team's season has been canceled for the current academic year.

New Administrative Roles for Three African Americans in Higher Education

The three African Americns appointed to administrative posts in higher education are Chandra Dorsey-Felton at Florida Memorial University, Quaneshia Hamms at Grambling State University in Louisiana, and BJ Abrams at Michigan State University.

Featured Jobs