Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Howell graduated summa cum laude with Highest Honors in History from Bowdoin College in 1958.
Elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year, he continued his education on a Rhodes Scholarship to St. John's College, Oxford, where he received a B.A., M.A., and D.Phil.
[5] In 1970, Bowdoin became the first academic institution in America to eliminate SAT I and College Board Achievement Test requirements.
After becoming a rugby fan during his time at Oxford University, he not only offered administrative support for the club, but also helped with the coaching duties.
"[6] By the time Howell stepped down from the presidency in 1978 to resume full-time teaching, writing and research at Bowdoin, it had received reaccreditation from the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, which had "commended [it]...for offering a traditional educational excellently.