Barbara Francis Taylor Bowman (October 30, 1928 – November 4, 2024) was an American early childhood education expert/advocate, academic, and author.
Her areas of expertise included early childhood care/education, educational equity for minority and low-income children, as well as intergenerational family support and roles.
[7] The next year, with the support of businessman and philanthropist Irving B. Harris, Bowman cofounded the Chicago School for Early Childhood Education (now known as the Erikson Institute) with child psychologist Maria Piers and social worker Lorraine Wallach.
[8] Bowman went on to serve as its president during the period of 1994 to 2001, and maintained a professorship at the institute, where she was the Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Development.
They had one daughter, Valerie Jarrett, who was Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison in the Obama administration.