Geraldine Bowen
Geraldine Bowen
Board of Directors - Black University
The child of a concert pianist, educator, and singer, mother; and photojournalist, government Director, and author, father, Geraldine “Gerri” Bowen was born and raised in Washington DC, where she developed a love for the arts – studying ballet, acting, piano and violin - and enjoyed many visits to the modern and history art museums in DC. As a member of the DC Youth Orchestra program, Gerri toured Japan and went on to win DC’s Joseph and Goldie Feder Memorial String Competition – solo violin performance at a young age. Gerri continued her studies in music at Indiana University, graduating Cum Laude with a degree in Violin Performance, and later at Rutgers University – where she won a two-year fellowship and graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a Master of Music Degree – Violin Performance.
While concertizing in the NY and NJ areas, and teaching music at Rutgers University, Gerri won an academic scholarship and attended Rutgers Law School – Newark at night and eventually received her Juris Doctor degree.
Gerri has had an illustrious legal career – starting out as a NJ Supreme Court Clerk, working at a white shoe NJ law firm, clerking for the 3rd Circuit for a District Court Judge, and eventually working in house for Reynolds American, ABB and ITG Brands, LLC where she is currently the Associate General Counsel. Gerri loves to collaborate with her colleagues, find solutions, and champions DEI initiatives --- and she is a founding member of the DEI BERGS initiating the 1st Black History month celebration at ITG. Gerri’s legal expertise includes contracts, Intellectual property, advertising and regulatory compliance, risk management and complex litigation.
Gerri is the recipient of the “WOW “award, the “Golden Eagle Award” and the “Globe” award.
In her free time, Gerri loves to read, cycle, travel, garden, is a member of book clubs, plays tennis, and of course, is an avid supporter of the arts – attending plays, the Opera, ballet, symphony, and Broadway musicals. Gerri is honored to be on the Board of Black University.