Dowden Science Hall named for retiring president

HUNTINGTON, Ind. After 22 years of service to Huntington University, President G. Blair Dowden and First Lady Chris Dowden are being recognized for their leadership to the institution.

In a special ceremony Thursday evening, the Science Hall was named the Dowden Science Hall in honor of the institution's 12th president. Both Dr. and Mrs. Dowden were also named President Emeritus and First Lady Emerita, respectively, by the Board of Trustees.

"We will remember the two of you and will be forever grateful," said Dr. C. Ray Miller, former Board of Trustees chair. "Blair and Chris, we will remember."

The Dowdens, who began their service to the university in 1991, will retire on May 31. In their time at Huntington, the enrollment has doubled and many new academic programs were developed, including nursing, exercise science and digital media arts. They have been dedicated, insightful and devoted leaders of the university for students, graduates and the greater community.

Under Dr. Dowden's leadership, the 91,000 square-foot Science Hall opened in 2002. The state-of-the-art facility is home to the university's programs in nursing, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, pre-med and environmental science.