Retired Arkansas State University staff member Gina Bowman died Feb. 26.

Bowman served as director of media relations in the Office of Communications and Marketing for 14 years. She retired in 2022.

After earning her journalism degree at A-State, Bowman served as an assistant director in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. While earning her degree, she was the sports editor for The Herald. 

She was promoted to assistant athletics director for media relations in 1994 and was one of the first female sports information directors for an NCAA Division I school. She was also A-State’s Senior Woman Administrator from 1994-2002. 

“We were more like sisters than then friends. We just had that bond that good friends do. She was the best at what she did. Everybody loved her,” said Phareta Calkin, an electronic print press technician for Printing Services and one of Bowman’s friends.

Bowman was among 100 employees selected for inclusion on the Staff Centennial Wall of Honor. The A-State’s Lettermen’s Club named her an Honorary Letter Winner at the 2021 Hall of Honor banquet.

Bowman became popular through #Regina on social media, where followers would await the university’s weather-related closing announcements.

Calkin said Bowman would get asked if she was “#Regina.” She said a moment that stuck out to her was when the two were at a basketball game and students had “#Regina for the win” painted on their chests.

“We just got the biggest kick out of that,” Calkin said. “She loved doing that and she loved that the students.”

Survivors include her brother Micheal Bowman, Ph.D., associate professor of creative media production, and other family members and friends. 

A scholarship to honor her and her former colleague, sports information director Jerry Schaeffer is being established to support the SID students assistants program.

“She was a mother figure sometimes to the athletes,” Calkin said. “She always had an open door and an ear to listen and give advice and she was good at that.”

Brief by Rachel Rudd | Editor-in-Chief

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