Kyra “Kiki” Bowman was appointed chief communications officer at TUJ.
Amid continued enrollment growth and the expansion to a new satellite location in Kyoto, the Japan campus of Temple University (TUJ) has appointed Kyra “Kiki” Bowman, former head of communications at the United Nations University, as its chief communications officer, effective March 1, 2026.
Bowman will serve as the university’s principal strategist for institutional communications, brand management, and public and media relations, advancing the university’s story and brand identity across all internal and external channels. Her appointment comes at one of the most dynamic moments in TUJ’s over four-decades history as a branch campus of Philadelphia-based Temple University.
She joins Temple University at a time when the Japan operations have gained increased recognition through student engagement, governmental partnership, and collaborations with Japanese, American and other overseas universities. She will play a leading role in serving students, further elevating TUJ’s profile, and strengthening the university’s brand both locally and globally. In her role, Bowman will work closely with TUJ President and Dean Matthew Wilson and serve as a key member of TUJ’s senior leadership team.
“This is a pivotal moment for the Japan campus of Temple University and Kiki is exactly the leader we need at this stage of our development,” said Wilson. “Her extensive expertise in the global communication world combined with her experience at the United Nations University will help us strengthen our voice, support our students and faculty, and elevate TUJ’s presence locally and internationally.”
Bowman brings more than 15 years of experience building stakeholder-focused teams across branding, digital, and communications organizations in New York and Tokyo. Prior to leading the communication efforts of United Nations University, she served as director of operations at Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo, a global advertising agency. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and a master’s degree from Naropa University.
Background of Temple University
TUJ is a branch campus of Temple University, one of only 21 universities in the U.S. to hold both the highest research rating of Research-1 (R1) status and the Opportunity College and University designation in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications.
With a student body exceeding 3,500 degree seeking students, TUJ continues to expand its presence in Japan, highlighted by the opening of TUJ Kyoto in January 2025 and a growing range of undergraduate and graduate programs. TUJ also offers non-degree programs to more than 2,000 learners of all ages, with a strong community focus on advancing English language education from youth through adulthood.
Other related stories
- Temple University, Japan Campus Expands Faculty in 2025 to Meet Rising Enrollment and Academic Growth (October 23, 2025)
- Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Joins Temple University, Japan Campus as Distinguished Global Scholar and Special Advisor to the Dean (June 5, 2025)
- Temple University, Japan Campus Appoints Three Academic Program Division Chairs and Assistant Dean for Student Success to Enhance Academic Excellence and Student Experience (September 4, 2024)