Timeline

Dr. Karen Bowyer was born on December 16, 1941.

September 1947 – May 1950 Completed Grades 1-3 at Climax Elementary School next to our farm, 3 miles west of Bowen, Illinois. 

Libertyville, Illinois

Wedding Day, May 27 1972, Garden of Dr. Jeri Richardson in Tuscaloosa, AL

September 6, 2012

Dr. Bowyer retired as president of Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) on Jan 4, 2022, after 37 years of service to DSCC.

From Reykjavík to tectonic boundaries, volcanic landscapes, glaciers, food, culture, and the roads between—explore Dr. Bowyer’s Iceland journey in chronological order.

Arrival, first impressions, and a first-day food tour introduced Iceland through its people, flavors, and winter light.

At Þingvellir, the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart across a landscape central to Icelandic history and identity.

Places, monuments, and stories traced Iceland’s path to independence on June 17, 1944 and the people who shaped the nation.

A close look at a restless volcanic peninsula, including the eruption sequence that reshaped Reykjanes between 2021 and 2025.

Waterfalls, black-sand coastlines, farms, and changing weather revealed the scale and texture of Iceland’s southern landscape.

The journey reached glacial country, where Svínafellsjökull and nearby landscapes show both the beauty and hazards of a changing environment.

Small communities, distinctive architecture, food, and roadside discoveries added human detail to the journey.

The final route gathered the trip’s landscapes, lessons, and memorable encounters into one last day on the road.

Dr. Bowyer shared her Iceland journey with Rotary on August 20, 2026. Open the presentation below in full screen for the complete photographic narrative.

Open the presentation in Google Slides