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Joy Richmond Bowen '97 is senior vice president of treasury management for Pinnacle Financial Partners, and prior to Pinnacle, she worked in various roles at First Tennessee Bank for 18 years. Since graduation, Bowen has served Rhodes as a faculty member, board member, and event leader. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she served on the alumni steering committee for the National Pan-Hellenic Council Plaza dedicated in 2024 on Rhodes’ campus. In addition to serving her alma mater, Bowen is active on boards in the community, including the Regional One Health Foundation.

Black Student Association's Distinguished Alumni Award

Established in 1998, the Black Student Association's Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes those African-American alumni whose record of outstanding personal achievement and service to others has inspired Rhodes students and brought honor to their alma mater. The BSA Distinguished Alumni Award is presented each year during Homecoming/Reunion Weekend.

Eligibility and Nominations
All alumni who were members of the BSA as students are eligible. Nominees for the BSA Distinguished Alumni Award are eligible and will be considered for the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Young Alumni Award, or the Distinguished Service Award as appropriate. Make your nomination today by filling out the online form on the front page.

BSA Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

2025  Joy Richmond Bowen ’97

2024 Darrell Cobbins ’97

2023 Wilfreda Lindsey ’11, MD, MS

2022 Kathy Moore Cowan ’78

2021 Florence Johnson ’88

2020 Melanie A. Hilliard ’92

2019 Dr. Sherry Turner ’84

2018 Dr. Coby V. Smith ’68

2017 Dr. Sandra Waller Shelton ’76

2016 Aubrey Howard ’72

2015 Roblin J. Boxill ’99

2014 Steven L. Becton ’88

2013 Patricia Spears Jones ’73

2012 Dr. Lorenzo Childress Jr. ’68

2011 Dorothy Sanders Wells ’82

2010 Virgil Starks, III ’85 (posthumous)

2009 Julian T. Bolton ’71

2008 Vicki Gilmore Palmer ’75

2007 Donald Duggan ’86

2006 Charles Holt ’89

2005 Ryan Mire ’93

2004 Patricia Howard ’70

Marcus Kimbrough ’90

2003 Johnny Moore ’88

2002 Julian T. Bolton ’71

2001 Jerome Franklin ’89

Russ Wigginton ’88

2000 Herman Morris ’73

1999 Anita Davis ’90

1998 Joyce Broffitt ’77