Perspective and opportunity

When University of Redlands alumnus Tom Bowman ’78 graduated, he didn’t have a defined career path—only a mindset shaped by the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies: stay curious, embrace uncertainty, and keep learning. What followed wasn’t a straight line, but a dynamic, self-directed journey that carried him from creative design into global climate work—proof that an education rooted in exploration can lead to a life of purpose, impact, and continual reinvention.

From early design work to later collaborating with some of the world’s leading climate scientists, Bowman consistently drew on the skills cultivated at Johnston. What unfolded was a career developed through curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to pursue his passion, an approach rooted in the Center’s emphasis on self-directed learning.

“When I was a student, we used to say, ‘you're at Johnston to learn how to learn,’” he said. “The assumption was that people would find their way through life by creating it as they go and by learning new things all the time. Johnston was about creating that initiative and personal experience.”

Being comfortable with ambiguity and having the confidence to move forward into the unknown, proved essential as Bowman shaped his early career and built Bowman Design Group, a creative firm that would go on to design climate exhibits for the National Academies of Sciences in Washington D.C. and later the Birch Aquarium in California. It was there, overlooking La Jolla Cove, that the science exhibit curator casually referenced the warming of the world’s ocean basins — an exchange that would ultimately redirect Bowman’s work toward climate action strategy.

“Everything I knew about how horrible and dangerous climate change would be came home to roost in an instant,” he said. “I began associating with social scientists, communication strategists, economists, climate scientists, and policy makers. I launched various initiatives and decarbonized (Bowman Design Group) operations and won a bunch of awards for that.”

Eventually, Bowman Design Group was sold, allowing Bowman to focus full-time on climate solutions. The shift marked a turning point, not away from his earlier work, but deeper into it. What began as creative problem-solving evolved into a broader role as a climate strategist, bringing together scientists, communicators, economists, and policymakers to translate complex research into action.

A highly skilled communicator, Bowman continues to explain climate science through exhibitions, writing, and conference design, drawing directly on the interdisciplinary habits he developed at Johnston. In 2025, he returned to University of Redlands, bringing the International Green Industry Hall of Fame (IGIHOF) and Green Future Forum to campus. Sponsored by Johnston, the event gave Bowman an opportunity to reflect on the education that shaped his path and to speak directly to students who may be seeking opportunities.

“I think a program like Johnston is unique enough to attract someone to University of Redlands,” he said. “If you want to make something of your life that is never boring, if you can tolerate some insecurity and risk in order to pursue things that eventually accomplish something, if you're willing to make it up as you go, and you don't want to be put in a box, then this is the place to come. You may or may not learn the direction of your career here, but you’re going to gain a set of perspectives and skills as a lifelong learner, risk taker, and decision maker that are going to give you opportunities and power that a lot of other people don’t have.”

In a continued effort to support green initiatives, the Presidio Center for Sustainable Solutions will host IGIHOF at Redlands’ Marin campus May 1-3.

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