What’s as important as what you read or hear about children, is what you learn from your own first-hand experience.
– Barbara Taylor Bowman

November 2024 brought the loss of another giant in our field. Barbara Taylor Bowman, Erikson Institute’s Co-Founder, Trustee and Professor, passed away November 4, 2024, at the age of 96. Just a few weeks prior, she shared the following message with the Erikson community, which expresses so well her contributions to our field:

October 30, 2024

I want to thank our faculty, staff, alumni, Board members, funders and supporters who helped make Erikson Institute possible. Erikson became something unusual: a graduate school in child development for the preparation of professionals in need of in-depth child development knowledge.

Our mission has always been knowledge in the service of children and families. However, knowledge is not enough. Rigorous graduate study needed to include carefully supervised professional practice and opportunities for disciplined reflection so that our work remained responsive to children and families in diverse social, economic, and cultural settings. Our accomplishments were possible because of the efforts by people from many disciplines and professions including education, psychology, social work, law, medicine, business, and finance. I am grateful to each of you, my Erikson family, who carry these practices forward to ensure the future strength and well-being of our children and families, and the professionals who support them.

We join the Erikson community in celebrating the life of Barbara Bowman. Learn more.