2017 | Yvette Lee Bowser '87
Writer-producer Yvette Lee Bowser is the first and youngest African-American woman to create and run her own television series. She also has the distinction of shepherding six series onto the primetime schedule. Dedicated to pushing the culture, Bowser uses the powerful medium of television to influence the perception of African-Americans and women.
A graduate of Stanford University, Bowser began her career as an apprentice writer on A Different World, where she drew upon her college experiences to help shape and fuel the hit show. At 27, Bowser created the iconic series Living Single, and has produced both comedy and drama series, including For Your Love, Half & Half, Happily Divorced, Lipstick Jungle, and the hugely popular, black-ish. Bowser is currently Executive Producer/Showrunner on the critically acclaimed satire, Dear White People.
Bowser has continued to support and build the Stanford community through her efforts as a volunteer and class campaign co-chair for The Stanford Fund, a class reunion chair for her 20th and 25th reunions, as well as her intensive work on the special gift committee that led to the new Black Community Services Center building.
Understanding the value of mentoring, Bowser guidance has empowered numerous men and women of color to find work in the highly competitive entertainment industry. For more than a decade, she’s spearheaded the Showrunner Training Program, sponsored by the Writer’s Guild of America.
Deeply committed to charitable causes, Bowser has lent support to The Children’s Legal Defense Fund, The NAACP, The HollyRod Foundation, The St. Bernard Project, Tree People, and Less Cancer. In 2003, she founded The Butterfly Foundation to help disadvantaged children gain access to better education. In 2007, she joined forces with First Tuesday Media to combat voter apathy, and the following year, Bowser served as a surrogate on the Obama for America Campaign.