Cowan earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University in 1970, and later received a master’s degree in engineering from Arizona State University East. He served as CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Epicor Software Corporation, a global leader delivering business software solutions to the manufacturing, distribution, retail and service industries before retiring in 2017 to Braselton, Georgia.

Cowan is a member of the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council, the Auburn Engineering Strategic Leadership Team and a life member of the Auburn Alumni Association.

He is a member of the Auburn’s 1856 Society, Foy Society (10 Years), Athletics Talon Society, Engineering Keystone Society and Engineering Ginn Society.